Remembering Life’s Fragility After Tragedy in Sports

Photo Courtesy: Swimming World

By David Rieder.

At first, it never seems like it can be real.

When Fran Crippen passed away almost six years ago, the reaction was denial and then pure shock. Surely, there was no way Crippen could be gone—truly gone—right?

How could it be possible that a swimmer had died in competition? Especially one like Crippen, who was just hitting his stride in the sport?

Two years later, it was the heartbreaking news that Alexander Dale Oen was gone, three months before what would have been his long-awaited close up on the biggest stage in the sport.

And Sunday morning, baseball woke up to the news that one of its most well-known, charismatic stars was gone. José Fernández, a Cuban defector-turned-one of the best pitchers in baseball and a hero among Miami Marlins fans, had passed away.

Fernández and two friends were killed in a boating accident around 3 a.m. off the coast of Miami Beach. Their craft slammed into a jetty, and all three were ejected. Fernandez was just 24 years old.

Professional athletes—let alone one so talented, popular and successful as Fernández—appear larger than life. Fans know them for what they accomplish on the field or on the court or, yes, in the pool. There are bad days—adding time in swimming or perhaps giving up seven earned runs while pitching—but those will all be forgotten in time.

Then there are the really bad days, perhaps when an injury is involved. Fernández was no stranger to such misfortune, as he suffered an elbow injury before the 2014 season that required Tommy John surgery and kept him out of the game for 14 months.

On the worst days in sports, careers end for reasons outside the athlete’s control—such as the blood clots which will likely prevent future Hall of Famer Chris Bosh from playing basketball again.

But athletics is just an arena, a venue to puts one’s impressive talents on display. Real life exists—and goes on, even after one’s sporting career is over. Star athletes face adversity—even tragedy—the same as any other human being.

Fernández had been so successful but still had so much left to achieve—just like Dale Oen and just like Crippen.

In April 2012, Dale Oen was already a star in his home country of Norway and was favored to win Olympic gold in the 100 breast that summer. He had already won a silver in the event at the 2008 Olympics (behind the great Kosuke Kitajima), and in 2011 he won his first World title.

But while training at altitude in Flagstaff, Ariz., three months before the Games, Dale Oen collapsed in the shower and died at age 26. Autopsies revealed a previously-unknown heart condition.

The 100 breast in London would go on without Dale Oen, but he would not be forgotten. South Africa’s Cameron van der Burgh won gold and set a new world record in the event—and then dedicated the swim to his good friend. Daniel Gyurta won the 200 breast in London and then offered a copy of his gold medal to Dale Oen’s family.

And then there was Fran Crippen, the top open water swimmer in the U.S. in 2009 and 2010, having won a bronze medal in the 10k at the World Championships in 2009 and a silver in the event at the Pan Pacs in 2010. A year later, Crippen would have the opportunity to earn a spot on his first Olympic team.

But while competing in the last World Cup race of the season in the United Arab Emirates on October 23, the 26-year-old never finished. Countryman and close friend Alex Meyer noticed Crippen’s absence, and not long after, a search party found Crippen’s body 500 meters under in the high-80s water that undoubtedly contributed to his death.

Crippen’s death brought about a major push for increased safety in open water races, and his incredible work ethic was not forgotten as Meyer went on to earn a spot to swim the 10k in London, where he ended up finishing tenth.

Their legacies cannot be forgotten, but how can these young, extraordinary figures be gone so soon, so suddenly?

That’s something that those close to Fernández are still trying to come to grips with.

“I just don’t really understand why. I don’t understand how something like that happens,” Astros pitcher Lance McCullers said Sunday. McCullers and Fernández had been friends since their high school days in the Tampa, Fla., area.

“I talked to him about two weeks ago probably. We were just talking about the offseason—ironically enough, going fishing.”

The world will miss Fernández the human being—one that just happened to be a former Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Star and an icon, one with so much potential left unfulfilled, even after Marlins manager Don Mattingly called what turned out to be his final outing, a 1-0 victory over the Nationals last week, “the best game he has thrown all year.”

Baseball fans will remember Fernández’s 29-2 career record at Marlins Park, his colossal strikeout totals and his combination of ferocity and exuberance—just like swimming fans will fondly remember Dale Oen as a Norwegian national hero and Crippen for his perseverance and legendary work ethic.

Fernández will be mourned, just like Dale Oen and Crippen were and still are. They are missed for their human qualities and, yes, their athletic excellence. But friends and fans alike will always have the memories of each of their shining athletic performances.

Of course, it’s those exact moments that make sports as a whole so great. Those who follow any sport—swimming, baseball, you name it—get to witness individuals dedicate themselves to a pursuit of a goal. And no matter how that journey turns out, the resulting emotion will be real—that is, uniquely human and thus beautiful.

For elite swimmers, of course, the journey just reached its endpoint at the Olympic Games in Rio, and it’s hard to erase the emotional memories from that meet.

For some it was exuberance—think Cody Miller after his surprise bronze medal in the men’s 100 breast or Maya DiRado when she shocked the world to win the women’s 200 back—and for others, tears—Ryan Held, Caeleb Dressel and, most notably, the typically-stoic Katie Ledecky after she completed her historic sweep of the 200, 400 and 800 free gold medals.

Fans of swimming were lucky enough to witness four years’ worth of hard work and emotional energy bottled up into one eight-day competition, but there were plenty more of the same sprinkled throughout the ultimately-too-short careers and lives of Fran Crippen, Alexander Dale Oen and José Fernández.

Fernández’s death was yet another reminder of how fleeting these moments can be and how quickly they can come do an end. As fans of swimming—or any sport—the worst we can do is to take them for granted.

All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

Name*

Email*

7 Comments

Oldest

Newest Most Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Susan L. Lansbury

7 years ago

so sad, loved and sll in their prime?

Annie Grevers

7 years ago

Beautifully said, David.

Amy Marie Bahr

7 years ago

#workthedream #liveyourdash #rememberingFC

Kate Borg

7 years ago

Great piece !

Kristie Wisniewski

7 years ago

When I was in HS The Notre Dame women’s swim team bus crashed. One person died and a lot of serious injuries occurred.

You just never know when something tragic will happen?

Amy Hennies Priddle

7 years ago

Reply to Kristie Wisniewski

Actually, two swimmers were killed. Meghan Beeler and Colleen Hipp. I had the honor of growing up swimming with Colleen. She was a dear friend and amazing teammate. I still miss her.

Kristie Wisniewski

7 years ago

Reply to Kristie Wisniewski

So tragic?.