Kay Serrar wrote:
Chris Athey wrote:
Do mistakes never happen? Everyone's jumping on the notion that this was on purpose. On purpose maybe to not tell officials, but that's a different story.
Let's look at the evidence:
- Experienced racer at multiple ITU World and other long course events
- Swam 25 minutes faster than any other AGer in the women's field
- Out-swam all the pros, men included
- Went on to complete the course on the bike and run
- Recognized that after the turn-around on the bike she was still 20 minutes ahead of 2nd place female (this must have seemed highly suspicious as she isn't an uber-biker)
- Accepted the AG winner award
- Wrote a race report that
appeared in the local media saying she now wants to race pro elite for prize money
Unfortunately, even with all of the above, speculation is required.
Why there wasn't a timing mat at the swim start/exit is beyond me.
There wasn't a photographer at the swim lap mark? Both of these themselves seem suspicious.
Someone produced some evidence of the swim as another poster wrote. I'm just saying it could have been an honest mistake, or entirely legit. Hopefully we have the athlete in question join this thread, and discuss exactly what happened and can clear this up for all of us.Otherwise, we're all just speculating.