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....
Former Member
Didn't Dr. Tobie Smith either hold or come really close to the English Channel crossing record at one point? I can't see someone like that just blindly letting FINA override real safety concerns.
Once again something stinks in FINA.
It always infuriates me when something tragic, like Crippen's death happens, and the response is equally, if not more, tragic.
Interesting editorial in this months Swimming World:www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../26932.asp
It says the coaches and swimmers should form their own organization.Good idea(but a little scary).FINA first,then the NCAA and BCS.
"According to data reported to Swimming World, the sport experienced 16 deaths in 2010 at more than 3,600 events held in 84 countries."
www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../26950.asp
It would be interesting to know how many of those 16 deaths occurred during sanctioned events, (sanctioned by FINA, USMS, ...). If the sport's popularity has grown by 25% per year, and the fatalies likewise, then working backwards ....
2010 16
2009 13
2008 10
2007 8
2006 6
2005 5
2004 4
2003 3
2002 2
there have been 50-60 deaths during open water events... surely there has been at least one wrongful death suit.
I think some of this could relate to the fact that now, as compared with years ago, there or more and more people attempting open water events than really should be. In the past, most of the open water swims were done by very proficient swimmers who knew they could complete the task. Now, we're seeing more and more people who want to "see if they can make it", which is making it more and more dangerous in terms of safety in the water. If you don't have enough safety measures/preventions in place, this type of disaster may be ongoing. Safety should be #1 for all events, OW, 50 Meter pool, backyard pool, bathtub, etc. Anything can happen to anyone. But think about it, what will you be leaving behind if you don't make it to the other side??? :2cents:
Jim that's a good point, but that was not the case for Fran Crippen. This fact makes the safety concerns even more valid. He was not only a proficient swimmer, he was one of the best in the world.
:badday:
I wasn't trying to argue with Jim. :) I was agreeing that he makes a good point, but I was also pointing out that Fran Crippen's swimming itself didn't put him in danger. Something extraordinary happened beyond his control. Whether it was unsafe conditions or him pushing too far, or a combination of the two (or who knows what)- it wasn't like he shouldn't have been in that race.
I'm kind of guessing that with the conditions that day, no one should have been racing?
I also agree that, having never met him or his family, that they would definitely want these safety issues addressed.
:agree:
ASCA reacts (7April11)
www.swimnews.com/.../8578
Crippen Inquiry: ASCA Asks FINA To Account
In response to news revealed by SwimNewsthat FINA has sent back the first report of the Fran Crippen inquiry to the Task Force it appointed to investigate the death of the American swimmer in the UAE in October last year, John Leonard, Executive Director of the American Swim Coaches Association, has written to Cornel Marculescu, FINA's executive director, to voice his concerns.
That letter in full:
Dear Cornel,
In the Aquatics World Magazine published by FINA, 2011/No2, under the article "Shanghai is Getting Ready", Mr. Barelli of Italy is quoted as saying,
"moreover the final report made by the FINA Task Force in charge of investigating the cause and circumstances surrounding the tragic death of open water swimmer Fran Crippen (USA) will be ready soon. (This was a FEBRUARY publication.) By appointing an independent task force, FINA wanted to assure the maximum transparency and complete truth on what happened last October in Fujairah (UAE)."
Cornel, now we are given to understand that the FINA report will not be available until after the Bureau meets in July in Shanghai. This begs the definition of "SOON".
Second, we are told via the media and in direct reports from others, that the TASK FORCE did indeed deliver a report to FINA and it was "sent back" for revisions. This begs the definition of "INDEPENDENT", "MAXIMUM TRANSPARENCY, and "TRUTH".
The conclusions that most in the world would draw is that things in the original report existed that were not sought by FINA and might in fact be detrimental or damaging to FINA. Again, the definition of "TRUTH" is absolutely at risk here.
Please tell me why a distinguished panel of experts would be assembled by FINA with the intent, one would presume and your previous FINA communications on this topic would confirm, of improving the safety of FINA events and determining the cause of Mr. Crippen's death. So which is it, did you object to the distinguished panel's findings regarding safety requirements, or was the original report critical of FINA in the circumstances of Mr. Crippen's death?
If they exceeded their Task Force charge in some way, was it in regard to their recommendations for safety, or their recommendations relating to the manner in which FINA is governed and administered?
Why would an organization seeking "Maximum Transparency and Complete Truth" behave in this manner?
OR perhaps Mr. Barelli, the "Honorary Secretary" of FINA was not speaking for the organization when he was quoted in FINA's official publication, 2011/2?
Cornel, since i am neither a member of FINA, nor a representative of a National Federation, I realize you are under no obligation to respond to my questions, but I wish to assure you that I will be asking them continuously, loud and long, until FINA provides some adequate response.
Sincerely,
John Leonard
American Swimming Coaches Association
I'm just trying to figure out who stands to lose the most amount of money over this?
FINA is worried about a wrongful death suit, as they should be. The report from the task force was probably very damaging.
As the popularity of open water swimming and long triathlons increases, more inexperienced people will enter these sports (just as in marathons). Sure, they push themselves to their limits much as elite swimmers do. I doubt they know those limits as well as more experienced swimmers, so it's probably easier to exceed them without realizing it. I think the rate of problems is going to increase along with, or faster than, the rate at which these sports grow.
