from the PacMasters Update Email
Ross Shoemaker, RIP
1942-2007
Ross Shoemaker died suddenly at the Senior Games following one of his swims. Ross had collapsed on the deck, and was not able to be revived. It is a terrible loss - Ross was a longtime member of the San Mateo Marlins, a warm and supportive man, and a devoted swimmer with an encouraging word for everyone.
Ross coached at Chabot Junior College for many years. Services are pending.
I don't think I need to point out the frequncy with which these unfortunate events have been occuring recently. Should active swimmers be getting stress echos or something as they get older? Are simple BP and lipid screens simply not enough?
Parents
Former Member
We're all going to die of something. If it can't be in my sleep, then in the pool is not so bad. You can choose not to compete, I guess, but that would be worse, wouldn't it?
If I could extend my life by avoiding competition but still swimming at a lesser pace, I would be on it like white on rice. Competition is great but so is enjoying the company of my friends and family.
Having said that, the intent of this thread was not really to scare people away from competition but rather to bring some attention to this subject matter. Often times people think that being active and leading a generally healthy lifestyle will prevent them from cardiac events, but that is not so. Just because you are an avid swimmer and don't smoke does not mean you are fit for racing or even heart attack proof. Obviously not every event can be predicted but I would imagine that at least a few of these deaths could have been prevented. To each his or her own. USMS is not likely to force competitors to get health screenings (or will they?) but I think if enough people see the trends that we are seeing perhaps they will take matters into their own hands.
We're all going to die of something. If it can't be in my sleep, then in the pool is not so bad. You can choose not to compete, I guess, but that would be worse, wouldn't it?
If I could extend my life by avoiding competition but still swimming at a lesser pace, I would be on it like white on rice. Competition is great but so is enjoying the company of my friends and family.
Having said that, the intent of this thread was not really to scare people away from competition but rather to bring some attention to this subject matter. Often times people think that being active and leading a generally healthy lifestyle will prevent them from cardiac events, but that is not so. Just because you are an avid swimmer and don't smoke does not mean you are fit for racing or even heart attack proof. Obviously not every event can be predicted but I would imagine that at least a few of these deaths could have been prevented. To each his or her own. USMS is not likely to force competitors to get health screenings (or will they?) but I think if enough people see the trends that we are seeing perhaps they will take matters into their own hands.
