Mario Torruco was in Aruba this past weekend to compete in the iF3 Masters World Championships. Torruco, representing Mexico in the Men’s 30-34 division, suffered a heart attack while competing on Day 1 (Friday, October 23).
This morning it was reported that Torruco passed away while still in the hospital in Aruba.
The Race
The workout was a trail run along the Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins…
The Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins is along the coastline of the Caribbean Sea. An aeriel view shows what that area looks like…
Extreme Heat
Athletes we spoke to said it was extremely hot in Aruba on Friday. One athlete we spoke to said it was close to 40 degrees Celsius, or roughly 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Another said he felt nervous about running in the heat.
As that athlete got out of his car he saw an ambulance leaving the start/finish area with its sirens on. He told The Barbell Spin that his initial thought was that it was reassuring to see medical support in place. However, now looking back on that he believes it was actually an athlete who had reportedly collapsed while on the course.
As for Torruco’s heat (the men’s 30-34 division), it was the last heat of the day and placed in the middle of the afternoon…meaning the hottest part of the day.
Torruco’s Emergency
That same athlete and another athlete in Torruco’s division said they were about 500 meters from the finish line when Torruco began to stumble and eventually fell to the ground.
One of those athletes, with three other competitors, stopped their race to help Torruco. When they reached Torruco he was unresponsive, mumbling incoherently and unable to communicate. His pulse was also “out of balance.”
The other athlete ran towards the finish line “shouting and waving [his] arms to signal for help.” But there was no response from medical staff standing near the finish area. It was only by the time he reached the finish line that the medical staff understood there was an emergency on the course.
Fortunately, while all of that was happening, a girlfriend of one of the competitors stopped a beach buggy giving tourist rides and the athletes helping Torruco lifted him into the back seat before it was driven to the finish line where the medical team was waiting.
Once back at the finish line, the medical staff transported Torruco into a small room. He would later be transported to Horacio Oduber Hospital where he was also found to have serious liver and kidney complications.
Questions Surrounding Medical Coverage
The majority of athletes we spoke with regarding about medical coverage on the course said they did not recall seeing volunteers along the course (which one added the route was poorly marked). “There were also no event staff visible along the running course to monitor the athletes or direct us at the intersections. I only saw three or four people when I reached the farmers carry station,” one athlete told The Barbell Spin.
Another athlete who was in Torruco’s division said he was told there would be plenty of staff along the route, but does not recall seeing anyone on the 2k trail run portion.
However, a female athlete in a different division said she saw a few people along the route who were standing next to vehicles during her heat earlier in the day. She wasn’t sure they were part of the medical team, but assumed they were. One of those people did ask her if she was okay.
“Knowing that there had already been a medical emergency, I find it extremely concerning that there appeared to be so little support along the course during our event. There were no event staff visible in large sections of the running route, and when Mario collapsed, I struggled desperately to get anyone’s attention or find help,” shared an athlete we spoke to.
He continued, “In my opinion, the lack of visible safety measures and support along the course was completely unacceptable and irresponsible. Athletes were competing in extreme heat on a course with poor markings, and we should have been able to trust that adequate medical support and event staff were in place to respond immediately if something went wrong.”
Statement from Torruco’s Girlfriend
Torruco’s girlfriend, Diana Burrola, took to Instagram earlier this week to share her understanding of happened in Aruba:
“Good day. I’m making this video asking for support from the institutions corresponding to the event that took place in Aruba, the world cup of functional fitness. My boyfriend was one of the participants from Mexico. He suffered a heart attack at the first event and did not receive attention from first responders. He was assisted by one of the competitors. Right now he is currently located in the hospital and we need your support. I arrived at the people who correspond to support us.”
Her statements match those who said that he did not receive the proper medical attention by iF3 staff.
iF3 Statement
The claims that the course did not have proper medical staff have been disputed by a representative of the International Functional Fitness Federation.
An iF3 representative told The Barbell Spin, “An EMT team was onsite, and he was given medical attention and an IV onsite before being taken to the hospital via ambulance. Additionally there were water stations at both ends of the course (2k course). As well as medical staff at different points (beginning, 1k mark, etc).”
The iF3 representative added, “The EMT had a car to be able to drive to athletes to provide help on the course if needed and had a static air conditioned trailer where they provided first aid.”
Competition Continued
Despite this medical emergency that occurred on the first day of competition, the iF3 Masters World Championships continued. Athletes said they never received any information or update from the organizers on Torruco’s status the rest of the weekend.
The competition continued on Saturday and Sunday.
As of this publication, neither the iF3 or the F3 Aruba have made a public statement regarding what happened during the competition.
Torruco’s Passing
While he remained in the hospital receiving treatment, those close to him set up a GoFundMe to assist with the hospital expenses and, at the time, a possible medical transfer, back to Mexico when he condition stabilized.
Tragically, this morning it was announced that Torruco passed away. The GoFundMe is still in place to help cover the costs to transport his remains back to Puebla, Mexico for a final farewell and funeral.
Last Year at iF3 Masters World Championships
This is now the second year in a row that the iF3 Masters World Championships have been in the news. Last year the competition was plagued with “organization and execution errors”.
The issues were so bad that Australia was removed as the host of the 2026 iF3 World Championships (the elite divisions, not Masters) and the iF3 Vice President, Mel Robinson, resigned from the iF3 Board of Directors. Additionally, the iF3 initiated an independent investigation.
