Yikes, sold out in minutes despite this being the top tier cost ![]()
They’re clearly still popular!
Another death in Ironman at Madison 70.3
Found this post though on Facebook, which helps no one and figures quoted he even says are made up
The most deadly sport?
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I don’t remember many deaths at all back then either, far more now since it became a bucket list event. I asked ChatGPT, so pinch of salt, but mirrored my recollection of 1 or 2 up to about 2010, then 3 or 4 with a massive jump in last 7 years
I think participation numbers are probably a bit smaller now, albeit the big events are much bigger.
Not as many swims nowadays, death rate should be plummeting.
One death is a death too many.
I’m more concerned about the post above about 6 hours sleep in 2 days with the answer to down 2 cans of red bull ![]()
I really think it’s the “one and done” crowd.
Most of us round here started with the simple small sprint triathlons. Admittedly I went straight to open water swims but I had done OWS races since I was 10. I’ve still never done a pool triathlon. There’s so much to take in with all the triathlon stuff, it just seems crazy to go straight to long distance.
There’s just this general trend in 20 to 40 year olds of going after the big glory events straight away. It’s really odd. Is it to do with cost? They’re so expensive now that you spend all your money on that one entry fee? I just don’t know.
There was a spate of US deaths about 10-14years ago, mostly related to a different underlying cause.
AFAIK, Oz was the only country where you had to properly qualify for an IM entry. (not validate, that came much later). Ken and Glenda Baggs would vet your HIM time and decide if you were in. It wasn’t a case of just finishing.
I’m only aware of one ‘swim death’ in Australia, which was Ian Green at IMOZ in 2007. He was pulled out of the swim in a coma and died two days later. He was an extremely experienced o/w simmer and multiple Kona finisher. It was just a very unfortunate incident.
I don’t think it’s cost. I think there’s a desire for instant gratification and an insta-ready experience.
People don’t want to build up through the distances. They want a race in an exotic-sounding location so they can show off their t-shirt and backpack at the gym.
Back in the day, we got a lot of people on here who were going couch to sprint triathlon and it was a huge achievement for them to get there. If they got the bug then they would work up through the distances.
I think a lot of the one and done crowd are probably very fit before they start training for a triathlon.
The swim is probably the biggest challenge for them. Unless you have a background as a club swimmer, the IM swim and even the 70.3 are long swims. If you just had basic swimming lessons as a kid so that you could get by in the pool then the effort just to get around the swim is huge
power of the crowd, and red ball; it gives you wings…of an angel
Big running races like the London Marathon and Great North Run have fatalities every year.
I think RideLondon averaged a fatality every year.
If someone has a heart attack in a running or cycling event there’s a good chance that someone will be on hand to help them very quickly.
If someone has a heart attack during a mass start swim, there’s a good chance that they won’t be spotted and even if they are, it’s more difficult to get them to somewhere that they can be treated
Where do most deaths occur, and which discipline to most amateurs neglect the most…
yep, Mr GPT said they are nearly all in the swim, which we knew.
Apparently a 54 year old died in the swim at Almere on Saturday ![]()
And I did see this while watching the race but at Nice a male age grouper managed to collide with a moto that was filming the mens race, I’m sure I saw it during the run or it got mentioned. Sounds like it was primarily his fault, looked at his bike computer and deviated from his line, and possibly over the centre line? it would have been that 2-way section to the airport as people were still heading out as the pro’s and really fast AG’s were coming back due to the big staggered start.
Sounds like he’s mostly alright, wrist injury and possibly concussion?
Yes, two deaths at GNR yesterday, both 25 years old
Oh dear, the race in France that was cancelled when I was there was rearranged for this weekend I think, or very soon.
They’ve just announced the water levels are too low and have changed the swim location, to where it should have been initially
although I think it’s a long run to T1