[hobey]

<p>Kind of a downer of a topic for a Friday but I don't know how many of you were following this story. It will make you think about pulling on that wetsuit when the water is too warm. Crippen was not wearing a wetsuit but if the cause of death was related to the water temperature, it is relevant to us triathletes.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/swimming/columns/story?columnist=ford_bonnie_d&id=5732899" target="_blank">http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/swimming/columns/story?columnist=ford_bonnie_d&id=5732899</a></p>

 

[LookiLoo]

<p>This is such a sad story, and one that may have been prevented. I have experienced over-heating in water, and I can totally see where you could experience the same issues in an open water swim that you would in a road race with heat.  It sounds like there may not have been enough support out there for swimmers in trouble, so it will be interesting to see the results of the investigation.  A huge loss for the OWS world.</p>

 

[4boysmom]

<p>I, too, have experienced overheating in the water.  It was a super hot day and I had on my wetsuit.  Pretty wild experience.  I had't even gone that far, maybe 750meters?  I knew I was drowning, but there was nothing I could do about it.  I just didn't have the energy to fight it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As far as the athlete "pushing himself too far", that's what we do.  You push through and give it everything you have.</p>

 

[Tri-Tammy]

<p>That's really a very sad story.  Hopefully this tragedy raises awareness about OW swimmers and the risk out there.</p>

 

[Yo Sake]

<p>What a sad story.  Sounds like totally avoidable event.  I have wondered before, during tri races if any of the support crew would see me if I got in trouble.  They seem to be so far and between each other.  Huge loss to the swimming world.     </p>

 

[4boysmom]

<p>YoSake--I've wondered that, too.  At one of my first races, there was a guy had an issue going around the first buoy.  Possible just a panic attack?  Athletes in that wave had to stop to assist and were yelling for a life guard.  Of course, all the life guards were on the back side of the course. Athletes from other waves went out to get the guy so athletes in that wave could continue with their race.  Yes, the athletes got to the guy before life guards.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Son1 and I did a race where it was really windy and the water was very choppy.  I think it might have been son1's first tri.  My wave went off before he exited the water.  At every buoy there were people hanging on.  I scanned each one, looking for son1.  I didn't relax until I got into T1 and saw his bike gone.</p>

 

[jenotter]

<p>Wow...what a terribly sad story. And scary that some of you have been in races where the support wasn't supportive!!  I feel pretty lucky that in every race I've done, there were plenty of lifeguards and they did a great job (far as I know, anyway).</p>