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Athlete dies during Ironman as others gather to honor memory of friend

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 5/22/16. Competitors wait for sunrise to begin the 2016 Sunbelt Bakery Ironman 70.3 event in downtown Chattanooga on Sunday, May 22.
Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 5/22/16. Competitors wait for sunrise to begin the 2016 Sunbelt Bakery Ironman 70.3 event in downtown Chattanooga on Sunday, May 22. Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 5/22/16. Competitors wait for sunrise to begin the 2016 Sunbelt Bakery Ironman 70.3 event in downtown Chattanooga on Sunday, May 22.

By Jim Tanner 5 min read

Triathletes often seem superhuman. They train for hours at a time and show off their strength and stamina at events such as Sunday’s Ironman Chattanooga 70.3, where more than 3,000 athletes competed for everything from top honors to bragging rights.

These athletes competed on a sunny day in the Scenic City and celebrated their accomplishments with family and friends after finishing the 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run as spectators cheered. For most, all seemed perfect.

But word quickly spread of the death of an unidentified athlete who struggled early on the swim course. Emergency workers pulled the person from the water and administered CPR on the starting dock, even as other triathletes entered the water to begin their own races.

The athlete was transported to Erlanger but could not be resuscitated, Ellie Seifert, Ironman director of public relations, said in a statement.

“We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of one of our athletes participating in today’s IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga triathlon,” Seifert said. “Our condolences go out to the athlete’s family and friends, whom we will continue to support.”