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)?
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.
Another dynamic in higher water temperatures is mandatory cap wear. I recognize the need for brightly colored caps in open water swims, but if I get in water over 85, wearing a cap holds in too much heat. I get headaches swimming any further than 500 yards.
Another dynamic in higher water temperatures is mandatory cap wear. I recognize the need for brightly colored caps in open water swims, but if I get in water over 85, wearing a cap holds in too much heat. I get headaches swimming any further than 500 yards.
I generally won't race in pool meets over 400m/500yds with a cap due to heat overload and that's usually around 79/81*F. Occasionally, if the water's around 77/78*, I may attempt up to a 800m/1000y.
Another dynamic in higher water temperatures is mandatory cap wear. I recognize the need for brightly colored caps in open water swims, but if I get in water over 85, wearing a cap holds in too much heat. I get headaches swimming any further than 500 yards.
I've had my cap "accidentally" come off in the middle of a race. Never been DQ'd for it.
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...
87 is moderately hypothermic. i think a memo should have gone out for those not experienced with swimming in those temperatures advising them to have their kayaker equipped with sufficient warming gear. i also understand that there were no attire restrictions and indeed saw photos of swimmers with gloves, thermal hoods, full wetsuits, etc.
another safety measure would be to have all participants show documentation of a long qualifying swim at a prescribed temperature... many marathon swims do require just that.
I think the whole water temp thing should be looked into more, I was very uneducated about body temp and what is to hot or to cold. It was not till recently I went on a training swim with 2 friends in wet suites I was not in one. The water temp was 54. We did an hour and at the end my speech had gone and could not stand or feel from the wast down for 20 min even after being out of the water. Its so hard because as swimmers we really want to always be strong. But i think this case I was plan poor judgment. Water temp high or low never used to freak me out. But now i can say i think more about being smart. It would be nice to have more education to swimmers at events about the effects of water temp on the body. I think then maybe people will know the sings and swim smarter and get out of a race if they know the effects.
Its always a tragedy to have an athlete die and it happens in most sports I can think of but if we are 100% protected from risk is it still sport? I am worried that there is too much pressure to make things safe which would eliminate most of the open water venues now in use. I have more questions than answers and pose them here to see what the rest of you think.
If open water is restricted to only conditions safe for everyone we will have very few races, temps in the 60's are too cold for some, for others 75 is too warm. Should we eliminate rough seas, winds etc. There’s already too much pollution and toxins such as blue-green algae and industrial runoff that reduce possible venues.
I feel that the challenge of open water is to understand and prepare for the likely conditions in the events you plan to participate in and to choose events that will work together for your training. It would not be reasonable to prepare for a cold swim like the 12.6 ocean challenge to be followed by a warm swim such as the world's or Pennock Island Alaska then the Maui Channel Hawaii. Time is needed to acclimate to each condition and the harder you will swim the more carefully you must acclimate.
Its being claimed by some that this information was not available, perhaps there's not enough science behind it but I do recall Dr. Miller (USA team) speaking about hyper and hypo thermia and he told us you should have (an ideal of at least) two weeks for adaptation in either direction. There has been more fear of cold than warm water expressed by swimmers I am in contact with but I suppose this will now change.
Are risks understated or are athletes over confident? What kind of safeguards should be in place and what would eliminate open water from sport altogether? Should there be qualifiers for each condition? Should there be “observers” for each person in a race? What would that mean for your local 1k or 5k? Is it a question of what’s too hot or cold to hold a race or how well athletes are informed before they sign up for that race? Should nationals, worlds etc have less extremes than local events?
Runners are pulled from marathons for medical reasons. Period they do not have a choice. They have medi stations. The duration not just the distance need to be addressed. Regardless of water temp. Blood pressure, pulse, and body core temps should be checked. If an athlete is in trouble, they may have lost the ability to make a sound judgement. Fran was dedicated. But he had his whole life in front of him. If he were aware of his serious condition, I believe he would have chosen to get help. This also begs the serious question of education for the athletes, event sponsors, and Fina. We are still in new territory with so many swimmers competing unattended. This is a tragedy that should never happen again! One other point. Every athlete is different in their tolerance of water temps. That is why THEY NEED TO BE monitered. We can all feel better thinking that Fran would have wanted to go this way. I disagree. He would have wanted to live.
