Two athletes have died while competing in an age-group sprint event at the Torremolinos-Andalucia Triathlon Championship Finals on Thursday. The competition, held in Southern Spain, runs from October 17-20 with more than 5,500 triathletes from 79 countries competing.
Roger Mas Colomber, aged 75, died after encountering difficulties during the swim portion of the event. It appears that Colomber was near the finish of the swim before he drowned.
According to Branden Scheel, a professional triathlete and coach, who was at the event shared what he saw, “I just want to say, World Triathlon, that was some of the worst lifeguarding, the worst awareness, the worst communication I’ve seen at an event ever.”
Scheel continued, “There was an older man that was clearly signaling for help a few hundred yards out from the finish. Everyone on shore saw it, everyone was yelling for somebody to go there. The kayaker is completely oblivious, paddling away.”
Later in the race, another athlete collapsed during the 5km run portion of the sprint triathlon. Mark John, a 57-year-old British athlete was unable to be resuscitated by emergency personnel.
The competition is the championship of the World Triathlon season and hosts athletes ranging from amateur to elite along with masters, junior and paratriathletes.
Organizers of the event have continued with the scheduled competition. However, they held a minute of silence as a tribute to Colomber and John during Thursday’s medal ceremony. The remaining events are scheduled to continue as originally planned through Sunday.
