More than 300 triathletes rescued at IRONMAN 70.3 Morro Bay
Last weekend, the idyllic town of Morro Bay, California, was the scene of a second edition of the HOMBRE DE HIERRO 70.3 which will remain etched in the memory of the participants, but not precisely for the sporting results.
More than 300 triathletes had to be rescued from the water during the swimming segment due to a combination of factors that made the test a real challenge.
Adverse weather conditions played a crucial role in the development of the test.
The low water temperature, less than 14 degrees, and strong ocean currents They tested the endurance and adaptability of the triathletes.
A strong sea current surprised the participants, dragging them out to sea and making their progress difficult and many triathletes had to cling to kayaks, buoys and boats, waiting to be rescued.
The magnitude of what happened is reflected in the figures: of the almost 1600 participants who started, only 1100 managed to cross the finish line.
CJAYE, a triathlete has shared a video explaining what happened in the test
The images shared on social networks by the American actor Alec Merlino, whose sister participated in the test, show the magnitude of the chaos experienced in the water.
See this post on Instagram
Merlin He described the situation as “chaos at IRONMAN 70.3 Morro Bay.” In his testimony, he recounted how participants struggled against the current, being swept away and finding themselves unable to move forward.
His sister, after 30 minutes of effort, realized that he remained in the same spot.
The low water temperatures aggravated the situation, making swimming for more than an hour a daunting task.
Despite the adversities, many triathletes persevered and managed to complete the test.
This incident highlights the importance of safety in sporting events of this magnitude and the need to adapt the test conditions to the meteorological circumstances.
The organizers of IRONMAN 70.3 Morro Bay must analyze what happened to guarantee the safety of participants in future editions.
