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....
Continuously broadcasting devices exist, but could you use them in an OW race? They require power (like your cell phone, say); are they waterproof? Are they small enough that the athletes could and would wear them? Is the price of the system low enough to make sense to use it given the economics of the FINA World Cup?
Here's an example of a tracking device that broadcasts in real-time:
www1.brickhousesecurity.com/small-real-time-gps-tracking.html
The availability of units that are waterproof and cheap enough are the big factors in my mind.
Here's an example of a tracking device that broadcasts in real-time:
www1.brickhousesecurity.com/small-real-time-gps-tracking.html
The availability of units that are waterproof and cheap enough are the big factors in my mind.
That particular unit is 4 inches x 2.5 inches x 7/8 inch thick. And it is not waterproof.
What we're talking about here is strapping an iPhone or Blackberry type device (that sort of size) to a swimmer.
These devices are also hundreds of dollars each. I'm not saying that someone's life isn't worth hundreds or thousands of dollars. But equipping a 30-person field each with a $300 tracking device becomes an expensive proposition.
-Rick
And I'm extremely interested in open water swimmer tracking from a fan interaction perspective. This year I did real-time tracking for a swimmer in the Boston Light Swim.
www.meetresults.com/.../
But we had a boat to be on. (In this race, every swimmer has their own escort boat, and we're within 20 feet the entire way.)
Imagine the fan interest in an open water race if you could watch a racecourse map updated in real time with the position of every swimmer.
I think the safety factor is a secondary use of GPS tracking... i.e., the technology isn't going to be good enough to use primarily as a safety tool. For example, had the swimmers in this race had individual GPS tracking, I think the best it would have done would be to locate the body more quickly.
If you don't have an escort boat there, you don't have an escort boat there.
-Rick
Imagine the fan interest in an open water race if you could watch a racecourse map updated in real time with the position of every swimmer.
I agree. I've been thinking about this for a while and the safety benefit makes it even more appealing. I said earlier "the technology is there." I still believe that's true, but that doesn't mean there's a unit on the market that would be small enough, cheap enough and waterproof. Maybe this is a new product idea for Finis!
Unfortunately all the facts of this tragedy have not been disclosed or uncovered, putting my lawyer hat on , I believe the following questions need to be answered:
1. What is the safety protocol at FINA swims and was it followed, and is it different from the protocol of open water races in the US
for example how many lifeguards, boats , kayaks, surfboards are required , it is my understanding that the minimum # is at least one lifeguard per ten swimmers, I have read accounts that the race had three jetskis and the officials boat, doesn't seem like a sufficient #
2. were the people on the jetskis and the officials boat qualified
3. did they have medical personnel on site
4. How many swimmers were in the race
5. What was the course? most FINA races are 2000 meter loops, if that was the case, that should have been an easier race to monitor
6 If you look at the results of elite 10k races, the difference between the leaders and slowest swimmer is maybe 10 minutes, again that should have been easier to monitor than your typical USMS OW swim or triatholon when the difference between the leaders and the slowest swimmer can be over 30 minutes, for example look at the results of the Donner Lake swim or Waikiki Open Water Swim
6. If Fran was struggling why wasn't rescue/safety personnel notified
I am sure that these questions and others will be answered
I agree. I've been thinking about this for a while and the safety benefit makes it even more appealing. I said earlier "the technology is there." I still believe that's true, but that doesn't mean there's a unit on the market that would be small enough, cheap enough and waterproof. Maybe this is a new product idea for Finis!
The technology is there.
Satellite images of guided missiles hitting sheds in a field and infra red images of SF troops on the ground and in water. All these things are in the news, movies or TV shows weekly.
Even helicopters flying above with spotters is an option.
I don't think it's a matter of gadgetry, I think it's a matter of basics.
10 swimmers per spotter etc. A spotter every 100 yards or so. The exact specifics needed I don't know.
It just reemphasizes what most of us know but may ignore ourselves from time to time, never swim without adequate supervision, or at least knowing that something can go wrong for any of us at any time. FINA have to answer for what is "adequate," and if "adequate" was met, maybe the standard needs to be changed. If it was not "adequate" to the current guidelines then someone needs to be held accountable.
I think it's a tragic convergence of conditions, supervision and possibly an anomaly of an "off day" in terms of general health for a fit and capable individual.
Mike: I think that you misunderstand the swimwear rule for open water. When FINA changed the swimwear rule for pool racing in 2010--eliminating the suits above navel and below knees for men and allowing only textile fabrics--OPEN WATER SUITS WERE EXEMPTED FROM THIS CHANGE. The notorious 'techsuits' on the 2009 FINA list--including those that extend to the wrist and ankle, and of non-textile fabric--are still eligible in FINA open water races.
I believe this to be a crucial issue in this case. Any combination of very warm water, hot ambient sunlight & air, heavy exertion, and a full-cover suit (which could inhibit body heat release) may have tipped Fran into heat distress, which in the water could be fatal. We need to know the full details as we evaluate this tragedy.
So I ask again: Can anyone tell me what kind of suit Fran Crippen was wearing when he died?
Mike: I think that you misunderstand the swimwear rule for open water. When FINA changed the swimwear rule for pool racing in 2010--eliminating the suits above navel and below knees for men and allowing only textile fabrics--OPEN WATER SUITS WERE EXEMPTED FROM THIS CHANGE. The notorious 'techsuits' on the 2009 FINA list--including those that extend to the wrist and ankle, and of non-textile fabric--are still eligible in FINA open water races.
I believe this to be a crucial issue in this case. Any combination of very warm water, hot ambient sunlight & air, heavy exertion, and a full-cover suit (which could inhibit body heat release) may have tipped Fran into heat distress, which in the water could be fatal. We need to know the full details as we evaluate this tragedy.
So I ask again: Can anyone tell me what kind of suit Fran Crippen was wearing when he died?
Bob I believe that the rule has changed for ELITE level open water swimming. Long suits are allowed but they must be textile. Not sure if men are allowed chest coverage. I believe that this rule changed over the summer.
Mike: I think that you misunderstand the swimwear rule for open water. When FINA changed the swimwear rule for pool racing in 2010--eliminating the suits above navel and below knees for men and allowing only textile fabrics--OPEN WATER SUITS WERE EXEMPTED FROM THIS CHANGE. The notorious 'techsuits' on the 2009 FINA list--including those that extend to the wrist and ankle, and of non-textile fabric--are still eligible in FINA open water races.
I believe this to be a crucial issue in this case. Any combination of very warm water, hot ambient sunlight & air, heavy exertion, and a full-cover suit (which could inhibit body heat release) may have tipped Fran into heat distress, which in the water could be fatal. We need to know the full details as we evaluate this tragedy.
So I ask again: Can anyone tell me what kind of suit Fran Crippen was wearing when he died?
www.dailynewsofopenwaterswimming.com/.../swimsuits-in-usa-open-water-swimming.html
Here is the link describing the rule change which went into effect June 1 for FINA elite OW races. To answer your question, I don't know but I believe that he was sponsored by TYR so likely one of their suits.
