Monday, August 11, 2008

Not Nearly as Dangerous

A rainstorm brought significantly cooler temperatures to the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim venue yesterday in Beijing.

Water Temperature: 28ºC (82ºF)
Air Temperature: 28ºC (82ºF)
Humidity: 70%

Given the weather conditions earlier in the week, this is a great relief to all athletes, coaches...and medical personnel.

Please send in your suggestions on how to avoid hyperthermia under such conditions. Add your comment below or send your recommendations directly to headcoach@10Kswim.com. Suggestions will be posted during the NBC Olympics live webcast on the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim events on August 19th and 20th.

Photo at the end of the 10K women's qualification swim in Seville by Javier Blazquez where the water and air temperatures were not nearly as high as Beijing is.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

82 degrees - hypothermia?

Maybe take the lane lines out of the Bejing Olympic Pool and have them do loops.

OR ask the Bulgarian. He seems to have done pretty well in cold English and French waters.

Looking forward to Ketchikan, AK winning the 2020 Summer Olympics and hosting the Marathon Swim around Pennock Island.

Steven Munatones said...

Whether it is 82 of 87 degrees, the swimmers will be in danger of overheating (hyperthermia) not hypothermia. Petar Stoychev of Bulgaria does, as you state, very well in colder waters; however, it is the very warm water of Beijing where he is at a disadvantage. Please send us photos of the Pennock Island race.