Two competitors die in one day during Triathlon World Championships

The sport of triathlon is in shock after two competitors died at this week’💯s World Championships in Madrid, Spain.

One British and one Mexican competitor, both men competing in veteran age groups, died on Friday (AEDT) while competing at the Torremolinos, near Malaga on the Mediterranean Costa del Sol, t🍒heir national federations and the sport’s governing body confirmed.

The Mexican Triathlon Federation announced “wit🐲h deep sadness” that 79-year-old Roger Mas Colomer died during the event.

The British Federation didn’t name its athlete who passed away and neither organization announced a cause of death, although local media later said the British man was 57 years old 🔯and had died from an a♊pparent heart attack.

American Branden Scheel, a 28-year-old who competes in and is a coach for triathlon and ironman events, was in Madrid and h🌞e has slammed the lack of organization a♑nd inexcusable deaths.

Scheel captioned a short video on Instagram: “Absolutely furious. We should not be losing athletes to poor awareness. Be better @worldtriathlon that was horrifying to se𒁏e.”

Clearly shaken, he also recorded himself discussing the horrific events that had unfolded, 𓄧blasting the rescue crafts that he said did virtually nothing to help.

“I just got back from the spri𒀰nt distance,” Sch﷽eel begins.

“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.

“There was an older man that was clearly signaling for help a few hundred yards out from the fi😼nish.

“Everyone on shore saw it, everyone was yellin🔜g for somebody to go there.

“Kayaker (was) completely oblivious, paddling away. Jet ski nowhere in the vicinity, was just working th🧜eir way up.

“After 20 minutes of chest compres❀sions, I left. The worst crew I’ve ever seen working the water.

“You 🐭should absolutely be ashamed of yourself. ♒Something needs to change. People should not be dying at triathlon.”

World Triathlon releas෴ed a statement confirming two participants had died, stating: “Our deepest condolences go to their respective family,🧸 friends, National Federations and all the triathlon family.”

The statements from🌼 the Mexican and British Federations were along similar l🅰ines.

“British Triathlon can confirm that one of our Age-Group Team has sadly passed 🌞away whilst competing at the World Championships in T🍰orremolinos, Spain,” it said.

“Their family have been notified and we are 🌄𒁏supporting them at this time.

“British Triathlon and t♚he Age-Group Team send their condolences and we request that their privacy be respected at this time.”

More than 4,000 tr൩iathletes signed up𒀰 for this year’s age-group event for older athletes, out of more than 5,500 taking part in the entire competition, the Spanish Triathlon Federation said last month.

– with AFP