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Triathlete's Race Dream Sickened by Dirty Water
4 Oct
Summary
- A triathlete fell severely ill after swimming in polluted open water.
- He contracted Campylobacter, leading to hospitalization and illness.
- A project now tests water quality for triathletes in Wales.
A dedicated triathlete faced a severe health scare due to contaminated open water, jeopardizing his participation in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Andrew Jones, originally from Carmarthen, became seriously ill after contracting Campylobacter, a bacterial infection acquired from swimming in polluted waters.
His condition worsened rapidly, leading to hospitalization with a high temperature and uncontrollable shaking. This experience underscores the significant risks athletes can face from poor water quality. In response, Triathlon Cymru's Safer Blue Spaces project has been launched. This initiative is pioneering the use of small sampling devices to monitor water quality for triathletes across Wales, providing crucial data to ensure safer racing conditions.
