It is unfortunate that Sunday’s Kadayawan triathlon event was marred by the death of a participant.
Mario Valdevia Marfori reportedly collapsed during the race in an apparent case of cardiac arrest. This is not the first time that a triathlon event in the country has claimed a life. In 2017, Eric Mediovillo died in the 70.3 Ironman race in Cebu. A triathlete also died back in 2002 in the same race in Cebu. Back in 2009, a competitor drowned in the Ironman 70.3 event’s inaugural staging in Camarines Sur after suffering a stroke.
Sunday’s triathlon event of the Kadayawan was even modified at the last minute scrapping the swim stage due to the water conditions.
Triathlon is not an easy sport. It is a very demanding sport owing to the challenges participants had to go through—distance, water current, weather conditions, terrain, among others. Most of all, one’s physical condition is the most telling part.
The race’s success was marred by the unfortunate twist. The death of a participant should be a learning experience for local race organizers to ensure that ever participant is 100 percent fit to race. While it is the responsibility of every participant to keep himself ‘raceworthy’, organizers can very well turn to technology to help ascertain raceworthiness of triathletes by checking on app-based fitness monitors which are used by most triathletes, other than the regular physical check ups. This is just to supplement the medical tests and ensure everyone is in tip top condition to take on the demands of the race.
Triathlon in Davao City is growing and every learning experience should help the sport develop into something that Dabawenyos can be proud of in the same spectrum as the city keeps its peace and order and security in check.
