Quote Originally Posted by tygab View Post
Jolt not to nit-pick but even a great swimmer may need help on the swim and that's ok ,.. panic attacks, heart attacks, and stuff happens, better to race again some other day... anyway I have been on both sides of the swim (crew and swimmer) and it's key to have boats and guards around. For IMs and large races, there are even SCUBA folks on the course due to the volume and super competitiveness that goes on.

anyway I have had the privilege to both run and tri in races with the Hoyts. It is humbling and inspirational indeed.
You're right, stuff can happen to any swimmer and that's why it's important to have lifeguards around. Going back and reading my previous post it did sound like I thought the "not so great swimmers" were the only reason--sorry about that! In that particular triathlon there happened to be quite a few weaker swimmers who just would get tired and need somebody to hand them one of the foam "noodles" that each guard had, so that's what I thought of first.