Athletes react to death at Ironman European Championship

The celebratory atmosphere was muted in Hamburg today as athletes, fans and organizers reeled from the news that a motorcycle driver had passed away after an accident with an age-group competitor out on the course. Race announcers Paul Kaye (right) and Till Schenk passed on the news to the crowd just ahead of the pro men’s finish, leading a moment of silence for those involved in the accident.

Kona champion Sebastian Kienle, was one of the commentators for the German television coverage of the race.

“Commentating on a death that you see live on TV was pretty shitty,” he said in an interview at the finish line after the pro men had finished. “I think it was the only decision to make, to stop the coverage.”

Motorcycle operator dead after accident at Ironman European Championship in Hamburg

“You prepare for a lot – if you’re behind the mic you worry about things like pronouncing a name wrong or getting the wrong splits, then something like this happens,” he continued. “You’re sitting in front of a really big screen and you see slow motion pictures of the crash happen and it’s absolutely shocking. You see what the audience sees and you need to say something about it.” 

Kienle has had a tough couple of races in his last two events of his final season of racing, receiving uncharacteristic drafting penalties. He’d appeared to be bouncing back from that this week.

“This was another kick in the stomach,” he said. “Seeing this makes you really sad. It also puts things in perspective. I was pissed off about my race results, but it doesn’t matter at all.”

Fellow Kona champ Jan Frodeno was also quick to point out that on “days like this, sport is sort of secondary.”

“It was right next to me,” Frodeno said of the accident. “It was definitely chaotic out there and unsafe.

For eventual champion Denis Chevrot the incident was equally as disturbing.

“I heard the noise,” he said. “I still have it in my head. I think about the guys involved. I saw them on the ground. The motorcycle was with our group.” 

“We need to find solutions,” Chevrot continued. “There were too many motorcycles. Before the crash, the motorcycles were so close sometimes, especially in the corners. Now we have the technology – drones – maybe we could use that. All of my thoughts are with the family.

Kienle agreed that the issue came down to there being too many motorcycles on the course, but also felt that “the biggest thing is that there was no communication.”