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Triathlon

Sarah True collapses while leading final kilometer of IRONMAN European Championship

As the temperatures soared in Frankfurt, two-time U.S. Olympian Sarah True collapsed in the final kilometer of the IRONMAN European Championship in Germany recently.

Germany has been experiencing a record-breaking heatwave which led to the searing high temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius. As she ran towards the finish line, True had a seven-minute lead but was swerving badly from left to right, before she was carried off the course after nine hours of racing.

The IRONMAN European Championship is a gruelling test of endurance over 3.8km swim, 180km bike and a 42km run.

“Sad, frustrated, a million different things. You never expect to be in the position where you have a seven-minute gap, and your brain doesn’t function well enough to tell you you’re struggling in the heat,” said True.

“Just stop and walk a little because I still would have won. When your brain goes in the heat, there’s not a lot you can do.” True continued.

True, 37, finished fourth in her Kona Ironman World Championships debut last year.

Source: NBC Sports