I'm curious what the ratio of deaths is for the swim portion of triathlons vs open water swims. Or maybe phrased a better way: I wonder if swimmers wearing wetsuits are more at risk of health issues than those not wearing wetsuits. This comes after learning of another death in the swim leg of a triathlon (athlete was wearing a wetsuit, but also had a known heart problem).
I sometimes feel nauseous after swimming in a wetsuit. I wonder if the constrictive nature of the suits might exacerbate any health issues in athletes (such as cardiac problem or other).
Just curious. I'm not against wetsuits, but I have a feeling the industry targets triathletes since they're less familiar w/ swimming and believe they require more of a cushion.
Parents
Former Member
As an open water swimmer that lived in the triathlon world for a few years, I can offer a few personal observations about that sport:
1) Damn, it really helps to be skinny in triathlons. When I was training for a 1/2 Ironman I lost 10 lb to improve performance and reduce injuries. In colder open water swimming I add 10 lb to extend the time I can spend in the water. A 20 lb shift. If you are a triathlete it is easier to buy a good wetsuit than the alternatives.
2) Damn, these wetsuits are fast. Even at my advanced age, I finished very high in the swim legs. I was not going to give up time to anyone because they had a wetsuit on and I didn't.
3) Damn, these new suits (the high end ones) are so flexible that I don't even feel like I'm wearing one. Get a good fitting suit. People who say they feel constricted may have a suit that is too small, but that is usually not the case. They are just not accustomed to the feel. How many people who wore pool speed suits felt unrestricted when they started to swim with one.
4) Damn, I float like a cork in a wetsuit. No doubt about it. it was the one thing that took a bit of getting used to for me. Once I relaxed in the lower head position it fosters, it became second nature. i did however, work a bit more on my sighting.
5) Damn, if I know if there are more fatalities among triathletes during the swim leg than in open water races. However, I know that to come to any conclusions, on whatever the data may be, would require a very rigorous examination of all the factors involved. It has been suggested by some that it might be related to a high level of anxiety in some athletes, and nothing to do with swimming skills. Triathletes in general may experience a higher rate of anxiety during the swim leg, than swimmers in an open water race, but that is pure speculation.
As an open water swimmer that lived in the triathlon world for a few years, I can offer a few personal observations about that sport:
1) Damn, it really helps to be skinny in triathlons. When I was training for a 1/2 Ironman I lost 10 lb to improve performance and reduce injuries. In colder open water swimming I add 10 lb to extend the time I can spend in the water. A 20 lb shift. If you are a triathlete it is easier to buy a good wetsuit than the alternatives.
2) Damn, these wetsuits are fast. Even at my advanced age, I finished very high in the swim legs. I was not going to give up time to anyone because they had a wetsuit on and I didn't.
3) Damn, these new suits (the high end ones) are so flexible that I don't even feel like I'm wearing one. Get a good fitting suit. People who say they feel constricted may have a suit that is too small, but that is usually not the case. They are just not accustomed to the feel. How many people who wore pool speed suits felt unrestricted when they started to swim with one.
4) Damn, I float like a cork in a wetsuit. No doubt about it. it was the one thing that took a bit of getting used to for me. Once I relaxed in the lower head position it fosters, it became second nature. i did however, work a bit more on my sighting.
5) Damn, if I know if there are more fatalities among triathletes during the swim leg than in open water races. However, I know that to come to any conclusions, on whatever the data may be, would require a very rigorous examination of all the factors involved. It has been suggested by some that it might be related to a high level of anxiety in some athletes, and nothing to do with swimming skills. Triathletes in general may experience a higher rate of anxiety during the swim leg, than swimmers in an open water race, but that is pure speculation.
