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....
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.
Tragic news. We'll have to wait for further information to see if the
apparent lack of regard to safety played a key role. Athletes sometimes collapse in marathons but it's a lot easier to do something about it. For a young athlete it is probably hard to imagine that continuing when feeling unwell could lead to such terrible consequences.
Don't know enough facts yet, but as far as what we have been told, I thought the same as commented by someone on YouTube - US national swimmer Fran Crippen dies in overseas race:
Quote:
iiwatcher
19 hours ago
...So he complained twice, bf and during yet he continued. ... However, if he was complaining during the race it meant he was concerned & that says to me, he wanted his coach's feedback on what to do. If he was insisting on continuing why stop to complain? So we're back to not liking the looks of this. He didn't have to die over a competition. He could've lived to compete another day.
I had the pleasure of meeting Fran and learning from him at last year's Aaron Piersol OW race in Ft. Myers, FL. Standing on the beach getting instructions, tips, and advice from a swimmer like Fran doesn't happen too often. He was a great person and will be missed!
For a race of this caliber to be run in those conditions with a severe lack of support and safety personnel is pathetic! A safety craft(s) should be next to every group or individual swimmer the entire race. This didn't have to happen! It's such a shame that something like this has to happen before changes are made. I just don't understand that logic.
My condolences go out to his family and friends.
Dave
Bet they will now
probably have rules about
allowable water temps for races
lower ratio of swimmers per kayak escorts/lifeguards
maybe safety monitors in helicopters
maybe requirements for brighter suits so swimmers are easier to see
maybe more check points & GPS chips in suits
Doesn't seem like FINA has a safety protocol ...
maybe more check points & GPS chips in suits
I was thinking about this, too. The technology should be out there now where every competitor could be fitted with a tracking device.
The more I read about this the madder I get.I believe from one article that to be eligible for World Cup money he had to finish that race.
As for the "We're sorry that the guy died,but what can you do",we know what they could have done before to prevent it and I certainly have some ideas about what THEY could do now,but I don't want to offend sensitive readers.
Bet they will now
probably have rules about
allowable water temps for races
lower ratio of swimmers per kayak escorts/lifeguards
maybe safety monitors in helicopters
maybe requirements for brighter suits so swimmers are easier to see
maybe more check points & GPS chips in suits
Those are all excellent ideas, Ande; especially having a lower ratio of swimmers per kayak escorts/lifeguards. I don't think a tragedy like this would have happened in a high-profile OW race in the U.S.A., such as the OW championships that were recently in Long Beach. From what I could tell watching it on my computer, there were kayak escorts, lifeguards, and official boats everywhere. I was really impressed by how well covered the course was and the close eye the guards were keeping on the swimmers. If a swimmer had been in trouble, somebody would have been right there. It just amazes me that this wasn't the case for Fran. Somebody should have been there for him. And, I still wonder where his coach was; especially since he was aware of Fran not feeling well. Shouldn't that have been a (serious!) red flag??? :worms:
My heart goes out to his family and friends.
"We are sorry that the guy died, but what can you do?" UAE Swimming Association executive director Ayman Saad said in a statement. "This guy was tired and he pushed himself a lot."
What an insensitive statement!
I agree. I'm hoping it's due to a translation error.
