EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has nothing to do with the passing of Páraic Casey whose crew is one of the In light of the number of close calls in channel swimming, it is always helpful to remind coaches, family members, crew members and support staff what to look for in a channel swimmer.
The fundamental principle of open water swimming – to Expect The Unexpected – must never be forgotten or cast aside.
This commentary was prompted by the distressed situation that John Collingwood faced while attempting the English Channel.
While some channel swimmers instruct their crew to “not pull me out unless I go under“, Open Water Source strongly believes these instructions are not proper and completely ill-advised. The mindset that “I’d rather be resuscitated than pulled from the water” may be celebrated by some in the marathon swimming world, Open Water Source believes and encourages the exact opposite. It is our position that it is the responsibility (moral and legal) of the crew and coach to pull the swimmer far in advance of serious problems.
Swimmers can always swim another day…even if the next attempt is the following year.
Coaches should be safe…not sorry.
Crew members should be alert…not accommodating to a swimmer who is not mentally coherent.
For a crew or coach to leave a swimmer in the water under extreme distress is either ignorant or irresponsible. A crew and a coach must not only know the swimmer well, but must also know the physiological signs of distress in all conditions. A crew and coach must understand the swimmer’s physical limits, stroke count, typical countenance and myriad facts from the names of the swimmer’s children to their postal/zip code.
It is our opinion that if a swimmer drops his stroke count by more than 10%, then the crew must carefully watch for other telltale signs of distress and must seriously consider pulling the swimmer. That is, if the swimmer’s average stroke count is 60 strokes per minute after 6 hours, and if the swimmer’s average stroke rate falls below 54 spm, then this is an obvious sign of distress.
It may be that the swimmer is simply exhausted or has incurred a shoulder injury, but this assessment must be made. Questions must be asked immediately and the answers carefully analyzed. “Do you have a twitch in your shoulder? What is the age of your second child? What is the first name of your wife’s mother? What is your zip code?“
If an athlete cannot easily and quickly answer these questions, then they are in serious physical distress and must be pulled from the water. The mindset and instructions that “I’d rather be resuscitated than pulled from the water” must be ignored and forgotten.
While some may say that a decision based on a reduction in 10% in the standard stroke rate is too quick and does not give ample opportunity to the swimmer, it is a safety standard that errs on the side of caution. A reduction of 10% is a sign that can be confirmed by other clues.
Because experienced hands in the open water world know to Expect The Unexpected. There are simply too many inherent risks in the sport to ignore mental incoherency and significant physical exhaustion while in the open water. From prop guards on official boats in open water swimming competitions to establishment of maximum water temperatures, the open water swimming world must push safety as it continues to grow.
While some may wax eloquently about swimming alone in cold or rough conditions, and while others want to push themselves in increasingly extreme situations as they get older, open water swimming veterans expect the unexpected. They have learned to deal with Mother Nature, both in her wondrous glory and in her terrible wrath. They know that the open water can be schizophrenic…and the human body can be too.
Copyright © 2012 by Open Water Source