The IRONMAN Austria triathlon was marred by the death of a fellow triathlete during the cycling stage of the 3.8-kilometer swim, a 180 km road cycle race, and a 42.195 km run recently.
According to local reports, a 58-year-old Austrian suddenly fell off his bike and received medical support on the track before being brought to a hospital by helicopter. Organizers, who have not confirmed the athlete’s identity or his cause of death, say ”our thoughts are with his family and friends, whom we have offered our full support.”
The IRONMAN triathlon is the toughest race in the IRONMAN series which features professional triathletes and enthusiasts who pit themselves against their physical and mental limits on the race course, in multiple races around the world.
2008 Olympic Triathlon champion Jan Frodeno of Germany crossed the finish line of IRONMAN Austria in 7 hours, 57 minutes, 20 seconds to win top honours. Local favourite Eva Wutti won the women’s category in a time of 9:06:25 after a super-fast 2:57:43 marathon, a marvellous timing less than a year after giving birth to her first child.
Source: Fox Sports
