I worked as a volunteer at IM Chattanooga two weekends ago and
signed up for next year’s race. During the bike to run transition,
American Pro Barrett Brandon, who ended up 4th overall in the race,
stopped as soon as he entered the change tent and urinated on the floor.
He did so in a location such that every other person in the race, some
2500+ were forced to run through his urine into the change tent. There
were no officials present in the change tent, only volunteers as far as I
could tell.
I understand the Pro Athletes compete for a living, but that does
not make them immune from the rules. As I understand the rules of every
triathlon I have competed in for the past 20 years, when a race provides
restroom facilities and you fail to use those, you are penalized. In
fact there are at least two USAT rules which apply to this situation:
3.3 General Conduct. At or during an event, or while at the event site,
all participants must:
b. Conduct themselves in a manner that is not offensive in any way to
fellow participants, spectators, officials or volunteers and is considered
reasonable and acceptable in the community
and
3.4.1 Endangerment. No participant shall commit any dangerous act which
could cause injury to any participant. Any violation of this Section shall
result in disqualification.
It cannot be said Mr. Brandon?s conduct was acceptable to the community.
Further, contaminating a public area with urine is clearly a dangerous act
which could compromise the health and safety of other entrants and
volunteers alike. Either of these two rules would prohibit Mr. Brandon
from urinating literally in the door of the change tent, especially when
there were port-a-lets within a few feet of the exit from that tent. He
should have been disqualified or at a minimum assessed a time penalty.
IM Chattanooga was wonderfully organized. In fact it would have
taken Mr. Brandon, no more than perhaps 10 additional seconds to use the
facilities provided.
Barrett Brandon was an embarrassment to himself and all of the
volunteers, several of whom who were forced to literally step back to
avoid getting splashed with his urine. I was embarrassed and outraged. I
am not sure if anything can be done to Mr. Brandon at this point. But
this sort of conduct by the Professional athletes or anyone else should
not be tolerated.
Thank God urine is sterile, you could drink it if you had to. Crazy fact for the day, there are greater than 1 million microorganisms in a gram of dirt; if you want a sterile changing environment, ain’t gunna happen.
Glad I was out of there before he was. That is on of the more bizarre things I’ve heard someone do in a change tent. Especially considering it is pretty empty when we go through. I agree that it is disgusting, inappropriate and whatever other word(s) I could use. I’ve never had to go that bad I guess…
Little odd, never seen someone urinate in a changing tent lol. Doesn’t really bother me since I pee on my bike, but would hate to be a volunteer in that tent after that.
given your outrage surely you confronted him at the door to the tent during his piss-fest. What did you say? What did he say? How was it resolved?
I think it’s gross. I don’t think it should have happened. But if you’re so upset about it, you should have forced him to stop or thrown down towels over the piss puddle so that 2500+ athletes didn’t wade through it. Or something at the race rather than wait 2 weeks to complain about it here. I don’t understand the point.
During the bike to run transition,
American Pro Barrett Brandon, who ended up 4th overall in the race,
stopped as soon as he entered the change tent and urinated on the floor.
Did it take him longer that 2min and 19 seconds? He should have peed on the bike and he could have had a shot at Trevor Wurtele in 3rd place. Amateur . . .
There definitely is something that can be done about that by contacting the Head Referee on race day. Sitting in a change tent chair and peeing while you put on your shoes is also not okay.
No volunteer should ever be subject to that. EVER.
My wife worked women’s changing tent at IMLP in 2011. One of the female race leaders sat down in chair and proceded to urinate. She then said “sorry ladies, this is the life of a pro triathlete”. My wife took said chair outside and rinsed it off. But that didn’t horrify her, she works in an ER at a level 1 trauma center, but what did?? The tampons…won’t go into detail.
My wife worked women’s changing tent at IMLP in 2011. One of the female race leaders sat down in chair and proceded to urinate. She then said “sorry ladies, this is the life of a pro triathlete”. My wife took said chair outside and rinsed it off. But that didn’t horrify her, she works in an ER at a level 1 trauma center, but what did??** The tampons…won’t go into detail**.
Dude seriously, right before lunch with this?!?! lol
Thank God urine is sterile, you could drink it if you had to. Crazy fact for the day, there are greater than 1 million microorganisms in a gram of dirt; if you want a sterile changing environment, ain’t gunna happen.
Bateria-free, normally; Virus free … you never know.
