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....
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P.S. I wish they wouldn't push us masters so fast to get out of the pool after nearly dying at the 100 I.M. or anydistance butterfly or 100 free. Hey, sometimes I hardly have the strength to go under the lanes to get out using the steps (I never use them at practice). Heheh, sometimes the young trainees or whatever taking our times at meets will look down at me and ask "Are you feeling okay, sir?" The sir part of it is what gets me. In running you always cool down and walk and so forth until your heart rate comes down, you NEVER should stop completely because that is what might cause trouble in your heart with all the blood pooling in your legs. Swimming however shouldn't be a problem because you are horizontal. But getting out of the pool and walking over to the other pool could be an issue if you had a bad heart. When in practice you always cool down in the same lane or pool you've been swimming...something to think about.
The person who fits this description might be well advised to avoid competition in the first place I think. Especially the part I highlighted. It's fun to race but not so fun as to risk an MI.
P.S. I wish they wouldn't push us masters so fast to get out of the pool after nearly dying at the 100 I.M. or anydistance butterfly or 100 free. Hey, sometimes I hardly have the strength to go under the lanes to get out using the steps (I never use them at practice). Heheh, sometimes the young trainees or whatever taking our times at meets will look down at me and ask "Are you feeling okay, sir?" The sir part of it is what gets me. In running you always cool down and walk and so forth until your heart rate comes down, you NEVER should stop completely because that is what might cause trouble in your heart with all the blood pooling in your legs. Swimming however shouldn't be a problem because you are horizontal. But getting out of the pool and walking over to the other pool could be an issue if you had a bad heart. When in practice you always cool down in the same lane or pool you've been swimming...something to think about.
The person who fits this description might be well advised to avoid competition in the first place I think. Especially the part I highlighted. It's fun to race but not so fun as to risk an MI.
