A middle aged man went swimming with his family in upstate New York. While swimming in the public pool, the plaintiff became physically distressed and struggled to remain afloat. The pool’s lifeguard was off duty and swimming. The lifeguard did not notice this swimmer until he had sunk to the bottom of the pool, after…
Continue readingIn a case handled by Doug Landau, a goalie for an adult embassy soccer club was kicked in the face and had his jaw broken by an opposing player. While injuries during contact sports are not unusual, what made this case different is the fact that the offensive forward who struck the keeper did so…
Continue readingWe have previously written about the dangers posed to children from pool drains. In this post we note that according to Minnesota Public Radio, a Minneapolis Golf Club has reached an $8 million settlement with the family of Abigail Taylor, a 6-year-old girl who was fatally injured by a swimming pool drain. Taylor died of…
Continue readingTainted supplements have been proven in court to have tripped up elite athletes in doping tests. Swimmer Kicker Vencill in 2005 won a legal judgment against a company that provided him with multivitamins contaminated with steroid precursors that resulted in a positive dope test and two-year ban from the sport. The process of clearing his…
Continue readingSince 2004, the USAT has recorded 26 triathlon fatalities; 21 of these died during the swim. But what makes the triathlon deaths more mysterious is that they all occurred during the first part of the race. Deaths during marathons tend to be more evenly distributed over the course of the 26.2 miles, with the largest…
Continue readingWhile I have been asked for training tips and race recommendations, a recent call from a sports reporter stopped me in my tracks. This young woman was investigating triathlon fatalities. As reported in the October 2008 edition of Inside Triathlon, 3 triathletes died in three separate races in July. This brings the number of race-related…
Continue readingThe 2008 Virginia Triathlon Series (“VTS”) ended for me on Saturday with the Smith Mountain Lake, Big Lick Olympic Distance Triathlon. While I did not “seize up” and walk, as I had the last to races I completed, this was a tough, painful and slow event for me. Having done a 2:19 last year, and…
Continue readingOne of the season highlights for this TriathlonTrialLawyer is the Big Lick Olympic Distance Triathlon at Smith Mountain Lake in Huddleston, Virginia. This race is also where the Virginia college teams vie for bragging rights on a course that takes place in an award-winning state park. Virginia Tech, James Madison University, UVa and other schools…
Continue readingAs the 2008 Triathlon season draws to an end, it is important to also thank the volunteers. It has been another fun season of racing in venues all over the United States. Other than the rainswept Duathlon National Championships with its multiple bike crashes and wipeouts, the racing has been safe, competitive and exciting. Having…
Continue readingWhile I have celebrated athletes and coaches, I do not want to overlook the people who put it all together for the athletes, spectators and sponsors. The Race Directors make it all possible. Brian Crow, Tom Cook, Chandra Richardson, Steve Garver, Donna Rostant, Terry McLaughlin, and Greg Welch all do terrific jobs putting on safe,…
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