Of all the open water swims around the world, is there a race where there is a maximum allowable water temperature? If so (or if not), what is the scientific information or medical guidelines for a maximum allowable water temperature for open water swims (non-wetsuit)?
Parents
Former Member
The length of the race will be critical too obviously.
Highly-trained and highly-competitive athletes might be at greatest risk in the case of temperature extremes.
I didn't know Fran Crippen but I presume, and I intend this to be a a very high compliment, he didn't know the meaning of the word 'quit.' He was also accustomed to working himself at the absolute highest level of endurance and tolerance. How could he know his body might fail him?
I think the powers that be are keeping details of the race very hush-hush... were there water stations? were the swimmers made to drink water?
God bless Fran and the Crippen family - our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I agree... I am in no way an athlete of Fran's status but I just recently competed in an event that I should have been pulled from the race. They did enforce stops and in my case the water temp was too cold not too hot but... I didn't pay attention or allow them to pull me from the race. At one point they took my temperature and said it was 87. I just looked at them - shaking because I was shivering so bad and having people feed me because my fingers wouldn't work enough to peel bananas - and I said that I was finishing the race. Then a couple of stops later they went to check my temperature again and I wouldn't even let them.
In hind site... I really shouldn't have pushed myself to that extreme. I was lying to people to continue swimming to finish the challenge.
I hold myself responsible in this swim because I should have known better but... all it takes is one person to think they can keep pushing it when the signals are clearly demonstrating to others that they shouldn't. Had someone asked me any questions that required thought other than what my name was I am sure I wouldn't have been able to answer correctly.
I know its extremely hard to make the decision to pull an athlete from their race but... it makes me wonder how lucky we just have been so far with all of this...
The length of the race will be critical too obviously.
Highly-trained and highly-competitive athletes might be at greatest risk in the case of temperature extremes.
I didn't know Fran Crippen but I presume, and I intend this to be a a very high compliment, he didn't know the meaning of the word 'quit.' He was also accustomed to working himself at the absolute highest level of endurance and tolerance. How could he know his body might fail him?
I think the powers that be are keeping details of the race very hush-hush... were there water stations? were the swimmers made to drink water?
God bless Fran and the Crippen family - our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I agree... I am in no way an athlete of Fran's status but I just recently competed in an event that I should have been pulled from the race. They did enforce stops and in my case the water temp was too cold not too hot but... I didn't pay attention or allow them to pull me from the race. At one point they took my temperature and said it was 87. I just looked at them - shaking because I was shivering so bad and having people feed me because my fingers wouldn't work enough to peel bananas - and I said that I was finishing the race. Then a couple of stops later they went to check my temperature again and I wouldn't even let them.
In hind site... I really shouldn't have pushed myself to that extreme. I was lying to people to continue swimming to finish the challenge.
I hold myself responsible in this swim because I should have known better but... all it takes is one person to think they can keep pushing it when the signals are clearly demonstrating to others that they shouldn't. Had someone asked me any questions that required thought other than what my name was I am sure I wouldn't have been able to answer correctly.
I know its extremely hard to make the decision to pull an athlete from their race but... it makes me wonder how lucky we just have been so far with all of this...
