Swimmer dies in MO triathlon

[Tri Girl]

I just read this online. His first triathlon and he drowned only 50 yards from the finish. So, so tragic and terribly sad. I wonder how this could happen. Some of our club members have done the race and have said it's one of the safest they've done (tons of kayakers in the water). I never think about the "what-ifs" on race day- I guess this is a reminder to remember to be safe out there.
I'm just so sad for him and his family...:(


http://www.kmov.com/localnews/stories/KMOV_LOCALNEWS_070623_TRAITHALON.ab1af79.html

http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=122783

[Zen]

Considering how fast he went under and how fast he was rescued I wonder if he could have had an undiagnosed heart condition.

[Eden]

How sad - though I agree with Zen. The first thought that went through my mind when I saw how fast he was rescued was that there must have been something else going on. A very fit cat 2 man died on a crit course out here last year from an undiagnosed heart defect. It was completely unexpected and a real shock for everyone.

[KSH]

Considering the report on what happened, it certainly sounds like something happened... maybe something like a heart attack, that made him go under. There he was swimming along fine and just went under? Sounds very odd.

It's very sad indeed... only 28 years old... very young.


I recently read someone's race report on BT about their HIM experience up in Lubbock (BSLT?). I'll paste it below. But gosh, I can't imgaine if something like this happened to a weak or scared swimmer. You know?


One of the things I love about this sport is the fact that most everyone plays by the rules. About 300 yards in I came in contact with someone who maybe isn't such a good sport.

At first he was sort of pawing my right side and shoulder trying to pull past me. I'll even say the grab to the goggles that flipped my goggles inside out could have been an accident.

But when he stuck his hand inside the collar of my wetsuit, choking me, yanking my head out of the water, and then pulled me under I lost my d*** mind and mauled him. I got on his back, held him under water and gave him a little of his own business before I pushed him under my legs and went on my way.

I'm not proud of it. I shouldn't have let some idiot throw me off, but I considered what he did to be far beyond what one would normally expect in an OW swim. I know there's always contact, but this was malicious in my opinion, and he grabbed the wrong guy. If had happened to me before I was a comfortable OW swimmer my day might have been over at that point.

[Tri Girl]

Considering how fast he went under and how fast he was rescued I wonder if he could have had an undiagnosed heart condition.

I'm wondering the same thing. He was supposedly a strong swimmer. I wonder if it was heart related or if he had a severe cramp and panicked and went under. Last summer I had a cramp so excrutiating in my inner thigh while swimming in the pool that it made me cry and panic. Had I not been in the pool and able to get to the side quickly, I might have been in trouble (still don't know why that happened...)


KSH- wow- what an account. Can you say "anger management class."
Maybe it was a jerk who was trying to put one of the competition out of the way, but maybe not. Seems like a harsh reaction to me, but I wasn't there so I don't know what the situation was really like for that guy and how in danger he felt at that point. How violent and scary, tho! Glad I'm so slow that nobody tries to take ME out like that! ;)

[Meg McKilty]

Not to be terrible, but what is the protocol in a case like this? Does everyone keep on going or does the race stop?

[alpinerabbit]

Undetected heart problems are a major cause of death in young, athletic males. It's sad and shocking when something like this happens.

The other story is quite shocking too. It's amazing how stupidly competitive some people become. I think I would have reacted similarly if I had the skill.