October 17, (THEWILL) – Two veteran athletes lost their lives during the World Triathlon Championships in Torremolinos, Spain, on Thursday. The event, which attracts thousands of competitors from around the globe, was marred by these unfortunate incidents.
The Mexican Triathlon Federation confirmed the death of Roger Mas Colomer, a 79-year-old competitor from Mexico. Colomer passed away while participating in the age-group event, which caters to older athletes. British Triathlon also announced the loss of one of their age-group team members, reported to be a 57-year-old man who suffered a fatal heart attack.
World Triathlon, the sport’s governing body, expressed its condolences to the families, friends, and national federations affected by these tragic events. The organisation acknowledged the profound impact on the entire triathlon community.
This year’s age-group competition had attracted over 4,000 participants, forming a significant portion of the more than 5,500 athletes taking part in the entire event. The Spanish Triathlon Federation had reported these figures last month, highlighting the popularity of the championships among veteran competitors.
The World Triathlon Championships in Torremolinos, located near Malaga on the Mediterranean Costa del Sol, continues to be a major event in the sport’s calendar. Despite these tragic occurrences, the competition remains an important platform for athletes of all ages to test their endurance and skill across swimming, cycling, and running disciplines.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
