I have done tri's for years. Only deaths I'm aware of were a result of holding open water swims during periods of "red flag"warnings and/or inexperienced swimmers competing in races with several thousand participants. This would suggest that it has less to do with the strain on the body and more to do with stupidity.

...and this information came from doctors? If you take a look at most doctors, they would have a heart attack just bending over and tying their shoes. Get a wii, are you kidding me? I'd rather train for and participate in back-to-back ironman's than play a damn video game. These "experts" should spend more time experiencing (is that a word?) triathlons, than studying data in an office building.

...and this information came from doctors? If you take a look at most doctors, they would have a heart attack just bending over and tying their shoes. Get a wii, are you kidding me? I'd rather train for and participate in back-to-back ironman's than play a damn video game. These "experts" should spend more time experiencing (is that a word?) triathlons, than studying data in an office building.

I've run over forty marathons and done several half-ironman triathlons and I haven't died yet.Maybe when I try my first full ironman next year...

In most long distance triathlons the starters run or wade into the water rather than jump.

As a 54 year old who just completed my first tri, I was a little worried since a participant just my age died in the same event one year earlier (it was on the swim and yes, a seasoned competitor). The swim in open water with other swimmers does take you out of your comfort zone and is very unnerving. Bottom line is, you have to plan and prepare well both physically and mentally. I applaud people who want to get involved and participate in something that requires more energy than to hold the remote and crack open a beer. However, tri's are events that need to be prepared for physically and mentally and the mental part is to ensure you run your own race and stick to your plan. I've run and ridden in races for the past 30+ years and I've seen people who are all juiced up on adrenaline at the beginning of a race and push themselves way beyond their real limits only to blow up two miles down the road. As with everything else, if people use their heads, its all safe.

Fourteen deaths out of over 1 million competitors...how many people drown each year who aren't participating in a tri? I think competing is probably safer than driving a car or crossing the street. Anytime you do anything there's a danger of dying...you don't even have to leave the house. Don't scare people off doing a competition, of any sort. If it gets them active, it is a plus. Maybe they should do a study of how many peoples lives are lengthened because they started training.

I think triathlons are a great way to stay in shape. I'll be 50 soon and I ran my first mini-tri a couple of years ago. Soon afterwards, I began working out regularly and had never felt as good since my Marine Corps training days. I gave a speech in college about the benefits of just training for a tri and it went over very well, even for those who have never gave it a second thought. Most of the danger of this sport is NOT giving it a "tri".

Maybe we should all hide in the basement where it is safe.

ok. they're talking about Iron Man tri's in this article.....totally different from a regular triathalon. And the people who die are, in general, weekend warrior types who fork out a ton of dough for a trip, and consequently refuse to listen to their unadapted bodies for stress signals. But again, the distances discussed in this article ARE NOT what 95% of triathletes (even pro's, olympians etc) are involved in.

Iron man: 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26 mile run

Olympic Tri: .93 mile swim, 24.8 bike, 6.2 mile run

To close, yeah, "buy a wii" and be like the other millions of fat, lazy americans out there.

And by the way, 14 deaths per 1 million participants is .000014 percent...jump in your car, clean your gutters, take a shower, take a walk, go into a gas station or take a prescription drug for far riskier activities.

ok. they're talking about Iron Man tri's in this article.....totally different from a regular triathalon. And the people who die are, in general, weekend warrior types who fork out a ton of dough for a trip, and consequently refuse to listen to their unadapted bodies for stress signals. But again, the distances discussed in this article ARE NOT what 95% of triathletes (even pro's, olympians etc) are involved in.

Iron man: 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26 mile run

Olympic Tri: .93 mile swim, 24.8 bike, 6.2 mile run

To close, yeah, "buy a wii" and be like the other millions of fat, lazy americans out there.

And by the way, 14 deaths per 1 million participants is .000014 percent...jump in your car, clean your gutters, take a shower, take a walk, go into a gas station or take a prescription drug for far riskier activities.

If it's from jumping into the cold water after completing their run wouldn't be a good idea to mist them towards the end of their run, prior to going in the water, with cold water so that their body is adapting to it and it would not be a jolt to their system.

I suppose there is a higher risk of bike vs car interactions in a tri. Swimming is gentler than running, or should be in a tri cause you don't want to start out redlining on the first of 3 events. I don't get it.

I suppose there is a higher risk of bike vs car interactions in a tri. Swimming is gentler than running, or should be in a tri cause you don't want to start out redlining on the first of 3 events. I don't get it.

In my 20-Year experience, the ultimate tragedy has generally occurred on the bike, rather than the water or run... most caused by mechanical problems at high speed. Generally, you sign up for Ironman events 1 year in advance… and mentally/physically prepare much earlier, not a weekend warrior winging it. Meaning you're in the best shape of your life and if your number is up…it's up... Wouldn't you love doing for something you love like Triathlon. Kill your TV and Tri…

go ironman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!