The deaths of two Ironman athletes have rocked the Co Cork seaside town
Footage taken from the Ironman event in Youghal, Co Cork shows participants struggling to enter the water for the swimming stage of the event due to rough seas.
“The competitors were all racing down to the start line before the thing even began,” said Mr Dunne, “we could see the professional swimmers limbering up in advance of the race starting – doing their arm warm-ups. The regular people taking part were lined up as long as you could see down the beach.”The planned start time came and went, and an announcement on the loudspeakers notified the participants that the first delays to the race on Sunday were taking place.
Speaking to The Irish Times, a triathlon coach who operates in the area said these delays could completely disrupt the athletes from “entering their zone” and mentally preparing for the race to begin. The coach, who did not wish to be named, said that while it was extremely unusual to change the course so close to the race beginning, the conditions in the water were very normal for the area and did not concern him or, he said, the “more serious” athletes who were first to enter the water.
“Your heart rate is through the roof before you start,” she said, “you get into the water and triathletes become savages in the water, there’s kicking, there’s punching.” Racing through the waves as they enter the water, the athletes knocked into each other.The lead swimmers swam for 400 metres, against the strong current, to turn around a red buoy about halfway down the Front Strand beach.
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