We’ve always stood in awe of Triatheletes (well, not stood. That would require using our muscles for something other changing the channel on the remote). The fact they can run, swim and… um, jet pack their way through 26 miles is a feat that we can only dream of in a really boring dream. So when we heard Estaban Neiva from Buenos Aires died competing in the New York City Triathlon on Sunday, we were saddened… until we learned he’s not the first, second, or even third to die swimming in an event. This year.

At least three other people have died during the swim portion of United States triathlons since early May: a 38-year-old man in the Gulf Coast Triathlon in Florida, a 46-year-old man at the Hy-Vee Triathlon in Iowa and a 45-year-old man at the Pacific Crest Triathlon in Oregon.

And those guys didn’t even have to deal with the jellyfish that plagued the NYC event. Seriously, when you have high death rates or have to battle sea creatures in your fringe sport, it might be time to pick up a basketball.

“I was in the middle of a stroke, and whammo, it bit me right in the face; the pain spread across the side of my face and down my neck,” said Charlie Redmond, 59, from Demarest, N.J. “Everyone was talking about the jellyfish after the race.”

We imagine those conversations went like this: “Oh my God, did you see those motherfucking jellyfish in the water? They almost ate me alive.. ahhhhhh.” Or something to that effect.

Man Dies in New York City Triathlon [NY Times]
Image [NY Times]