Death by triathlon
When it comes to a higher body count, triathlons beat marathons. Not that competitors are dropping like flies, but in a study presented recently at the American College of Cardiology’s annual scientific session in Orlando, sudden deaths in triathlons were found to be about twice as high as in marathons: 1.5 per 100,000 versus 0.8 per 100,000.
Previous research on marathon deaths had been established, but statistics on sudden deaths in triathlons were not known. Researchers looked at deaths that occurred in 2,846 triathlons featuring 922,810 participants from January 2006 to September 2008. Although the deaths occurred during all races, not just long ones, nearly all happened during the swim portion. That led study authors to theorize that, during the swim, competitors may have little opportunity to rest or signal for help. They also could be difficult for rescue workers to see. During the two-year period, there were 14 deaths: 13 in swimming, one in cycling. The study was sponsored by the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation.
--
