General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Philly Sprint Tri- Missing swimmer Rss Feed  
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2010-06-27 6:40 AM

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Subject: Philly Sprint Tri- Missing swimmer
I just saw on the news that the Philly Sprint Triathlon lost a swimmer during yesterday's race. Does anyone have any information??? Fingers crossed that this is somehow a mistake!!!


2010-06-27 6:46 AM
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Subject: RE: Philly Sprint Tri- Missing swimmer
Nothing yet, 40 y/o male that didn't come out of the water.  They searched for him until 8:00 last night.  I did the race yesterday and didn't hear anything about it until late last night.

Our prayers are with him and his family.
2010-06-27 7:29 AM
in reply to: #2946141

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Subject: RE: Philly Sprint Tri- Missing swimmer
WPVI (channel 6) is reporting that they resumed searching this morning.  Unfortunately, I would assume that the person is indeed missing in the water, as police would have had time all night to confirm that the person didn't finish the race/go home.
2010-06-27 8:28 AM
in reply to: #2946141


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Subject: RE: Philly Sprint Tri- Missing swimmer
no swim in oly today, I saw two police boats dragging the river this morning.....

sad

2010-06-27 8:47 AM
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Subject: RE: Philly Sprint Tri- Missing swimmer
Definitely very sad. I finished this Sprint yesterday also, and only heard about this a few minutes ago from a friend. I really hope, by some miracle, he's ok... but that seems unlikely. I really feel for his family right now.
2010-06-27 8:50 AM
in reply to: #2946141

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Subject: RE: Philly Sprint Tri- Missing swimmer
I was there yesterday, and got out of the water, and didn't know about this until my sister-in-law sent me a link this AM on FAcebook...

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news%2Flocal&id=7522444

I assume they didn't want to alarm anyone. Funny thing is, I did notice, at the end, while packing up stuff from the transition, that there was a goup of official-looking people confering. This included Fire, Police, and event staff, and one of them was writing stuff down. I thought maybe someone was trying to make off with a bike or something, but now I realize it must have been about this swimmer.


2010-06-27 5:35 PM
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Subject: RE: Philly Sprint Tri- Missing swimmer
2010-06-28 12:22 PM
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Subject: RE: Philly Sprint Tri- Missing swimmer
Just curious how the current was. I was scheduled to do the OLY, but bailed after I heard no wetsuits AND they were missing a swimmer. I have done the OLY before, and you are with the current the whole way. I saw that the SPR is an out and back. Did you have a tough current to swim against on the way back in????? Thx for any info. SUCH sad news...And, scarey...
2010-06-28 12:25 PM
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Subject: RE: Philly Sprint Tri- Missing swimmer
How was the swim? Strong current????
2010-06-28 3:42 PM
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Berwyn
Subject: RE: Philly Sprint Tri- Missing swimmer
I did the sprint in the same wave as Mr Valentino.  It was 108 guys, all in black swimcaps.  Current was not significant.   It was my first tri so I really don't have anything to compare it to, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary to me.

Sad, sad, sad, and my prayers go out to his kids, wife, and family.

K. 
2010-06-28 4:56 PM
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Subject: RE: Philly Sprint Tri- Missing swimmer
I raced the Oly the past 3 years, including yesterday.  Even though we never got in the water yesterday, it sure appeared to be low and clean.  Nothing like last year.


2010-06-29 6:02 AM
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Subject: RE: Philly Sprint Tri- Missing swimmer
KeithinPhilly - 2010-06-28 4:42 PM

I did the sprint in the same wave as Mr Valentino.  It was 108 guys, all in black swimcaps.  Current was not significant.   It was my first tri so I really don't have anything to compare it to, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary to me.

Sad, sad, sad, and my prayers go out to his kids, wife, and family.

K. 


The black swim caps was mentioned in the Tri-talk forum -- that just seems like a bad idea.... Wouldn't you want more visible swim cap colors? I've been in larger events that used the same color multiple times for waves spaced pretty far apart.

Thoughts & prayers to Mr. Velentino's family.....
2010-07-06 11:53 AM
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Subject: RE: Philly Sprint Tri- Missing swimmer
Has anyone heard / read any new information on this? Not to be ghoulish, but I would like to know if they determined what the cause was ie heart attack, did he get kicked in the head and knocked unconscious, hit by debris, etc? How did the lifeguards not see anything?
I am doing the sprint Steelman this summer, and my 12 year old daughter is doing the swim portion of a relay team as well and I have to say I am having serious doubts about letting her swim.
2010-07-06 5:47 PM
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Subject: RE: Philly Sprint Tri- Missing swimmer
PSUDU - 2010-07-06 12:53 PM Has anyone heard / read any new information on this? Not to be ghoulish, but I would like to know if they determined what the cause was ie heart attack, did he get kicked in the head and knocked unconscious, hit by debris, etc? How did the lifeguards not see anything? I am doing the sprint Steelman this summer, and my 12 year old daughter is doing the swim portion of a relay team as well and I have to say I am having serious doubts about letting her swim.


I haven't seen anything about a specific cause of death, but these things, sadly, do happen. It is unlilkely that he was kicked and knocked out, or hit by debris.  I've done Steelman a few times (this year will be my third), and it is a smallish well run race, IMHO.  If you are concerned about your daughter, make sure she has some OWS experience, and can do more than the necessary distance comfortably, and she should be OK.She is probably too young for serious cardiac issues, and more likely to be affected by anxiety, which can be addressed by practice in dark deep water.
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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Philly Sprint Tri- Missing swimmer Rss Feed