Today at the Arizona state meet legend Ron Johnson after setting a new American Record in the 200 breastroke suffered a severe heart attack in the warm down pool. Thankfully the lifeguards and masters swimmer/physician Kurt Dickson and others we're able to start immediate life support until paramedics arrived and rushed him to the hospital
As of 5pm this evening all I know is that Ron had had regained consciousness, appeared to have not suffered brain damage and was breathing on his own...however he did have 5-6 clogged arteries and was going into immediate open heart surgery.....please send your prayers and thoughts this evening for his recovery....
I think we all need to look at this situation and make a commitment to ourselves as well as our friends and families to make sure that we pay close attention to our health.
Frankly I'm surprised that we don't see more of this in masters swimming? I myself have struggled with high BP and cholesterol my whole life....2 years ago my cardiologist had me do a heart scan and a minor blockage was discovered.....thru drugs and diet the situation is controlled, but the bottom line after my stress test was that i would always be in a "risk" category.
Like Ron my decision after discussions with my wife and friends was that I would continue to train and compete.....if I do have to go I would pray it was after setting an AR at a swim meet vs. getting taken out by a drunk driver.
So....get annual physicals, don't assume because you workout and are fit that your safe (evil-Goodsmith with 5% body fat has arythmia).....and make sure that you have a living will!!
PS: My bad.....the person who saw Ron go down in the warm up pool was not a lifeguard but Barry....thanks for the quick action!
I think we all need to look at this situation and make a commitment to ourselves as well as our friends and families to make sure that we pay close attention to our health.
Frankly I'm surprised that we don't see more of this in masters swimming? I myself have struggled with high BP and cholesterol my whole life....2 years ago my cardiologist had me do a heart scan and a minor blockage was discovered.....thru drugs and diet the situation is controlled, but the bottom line after my stress test was that i would always be in a "risk" category.
Like Ron my decision after discussions with my wife and friends was that I would continue to train and compete.....if I do have to go I would pray it was after setting an AR at a swim meet vs. getting taken out by a drunk driver.
So....get annual physicals, don't assume because you workout and are fit that your safe (evil-Goodsmith with 5% body fat has arythmia).....and make sure that you have a living will!!
PS: My bad.....the person who saw Ron go down in the warm up pool was not a lifeguard but Barry....thanks for the quick action!
