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....
race organizers claim event was safe and conditions were fine. how often do race organizers actually participate in the very race they are putting on? how do you really know everything is ok without doing the race yourself?
the folks who run the chesapeake bay swim pride themselves on the fact that for 25+ years of running the event, every swimmer has been accounted for. in fact, when the race is over, the first thing the race director says is something to that effect. I think this past year they had almost one boat/kayak per swimmer (600) across the 4.4 mile course.
Fran, we love you - you will be missed.
The issue wasn't really the hot water, it was the fact that the field was not being monitered Swimmers can experience problems regardless of water conditions and anyone who could no longer continue in that race was a goner. :(
Yeah, I am worried that people are going to focus on the temperature of the water rather than the race directors failing to take the standard precautions. What's next -- no more cold water swims? No more strong currents? No more waves? Those of us who like open water swimming accept that these are risky activities (and like that challenge) and I'd hate to see someone say that we can only swim under "safe" conditions. But accepting some risk usually goes along with an understanding that basic precautions were taken. That's really the issue here.
Yeah, I am worried that people are going to focus on the temperature of the water rather than the race directors failing to take the standard precautions. What's next -- no more cold water swims? No more strong currents? No more waves? Those of us who like open water swimming accept that these are risky activities (and like that challenge) and I'd hate to see someone say that we can only swim under "safe" conditions. But accepting some risk usually goes along with an understanding that basic precautions were taken. That's really the issue here.
I strongly agree with this. The beauty of open water is that it is never the same race twice.
What good is a tracking device? help find the body later? Somebody's gotta be right on you.
This summer my shoulder bothered me 4K in to a 5K and I rolled over and did backstroke. I guy in a kayak was on me in a second as this is one of the things they look for. This made me feel real good and safe. I explained and he stayed with me on the way in even though I was not in danger. This is what you need.
As someone in the blind as a bat without my contacts in category, taking off my goggles while in the water is the last thing I'd do because if the contacts washed out of my eyes, I'm myopic enough that I wouldn't be able to see the course or turn buoys without them.
And given the number of visually impaired people who end up in the sport, I suspect I'm far from the only one in that regard.
What good is a tracking device? help find the body later? Somebody's gotta be right on you.
If someone stops moving outside the feeding areas then you send a boat to check on him/her. It's certainly much better than finding them dead two hours later.
