Full story:
www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../25369.asp
Excerpt:
Passages: Fran Crippen, 26 - FINA, USA Swimming Release Statements -- October 23, 2010
FUJAIRAH, United Arab Emirates, October 23. SHORTLY after the FINA Open Water 10K World Cup swim today in the UAE, United States swimmer Fran Crippen, 26, passed away after falling unconscious during the race.
With the water in the mid-to-high 80s, the competitors all finished and noticed that Crippen had not crossed the finish line. Meet management brought in deep sea divers, who found Crippen unconscious just before the final buoy nearly two hours later. He was transported to the Fujairah Hospital and later died according to information provided to Swimming World. Conflicting reports state that he was found dead on the course.
Crippen had shown signs of slowing down during the third lap of the five-lap race. When Crippen did not immediately finish, a fact noticed by teammate Alex Meyer who screamed for help, the competing swimmers rushed back into the water to help with the search.
Information provided to Swimming World demonstrates that the water was likely too hot for the event as several swimmers were treated for heat exhaustion after the race....
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Question:
This being a World Cup event wasn't each athlete wearing a timing beacon, etc. that tracks there splits and final times? These races usually are SO close at the end that its the only way they can really determine a winner. If so you'd think they'd be tracking each athlete's progress (or lack of) as well?
It just really bugs me the more I think about him being alone and paying the ultimate price like this. I think about all my OW races and it could be any of us. Only 2 of my races have I had a support kayaker from start to finish (Swim Around Key West and That Dam Swim 10K). Another of the others I, or any one else, could have been Fran.
Question:
This being a World Cup event wasn't each athlete wearing a timing beacon, etc. that tracks there splits and final times? These races usually are SO close at the end that its the only way they can really determine a winner. If so you'd think they'd be tracking each athlete's progress (or lack of) as well?
It just really bugs me the more I think about him being alone and paying the ultimate price like this. I think about all my OW races and it could be any of us. Only 2 of my races have I had a support kayaker from start to finish (Swim Around Key West and That Dam Swim 10K). Another of the others I, or any one else, could have been Fran.
