Courtesy of USMS:
On August 7, 2013, at the USMS Summer Nationals in Mission Viejo, California, USMS member Louis Slater, 65, of the Fig Garden Swim Team from Fresno, Calif., suffered a cardiac arrest while swimming the 1500-meter freestyle. He was treated by on-scene emergency personnel and transported to Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Slater’s family was notified.
Following the medical delay, timers and swimmers were offered the opportunity to continue with the remaining nine heats of the 1500 or reschedule to Sunday afternoon. Both parties wanted to continue and the competition resumed.
Slater will be honored with moment of silence before the competition starts on August 8. USMS extends it deepest sympathies to Slater’s family and teammates.
USMS is a national membership-operated nonprofit organization that provides membership benefits to nearly 60,000 Masters swimmers across the country. These benefits include insurance, SWIMMER magazine, sanctioned events, and many others. USMS and its 52 Local Masters Swimming Committees (LMSCs) provide direct support to more than 1,500 smaller clubs and workout groups. Structure and organization of USMS programs vary and are driven by factors such as pool availability, instructor or coach availability, community support, and finances. The majority of locations offering USMS programs have coaches on deck. Coaches write workouts and provide feedback and instruction.
A tribute to Louis was listed at the end of the Day 2 recap. This was a terrible tragedy and should be a reminder to all of us not to let the day get away without being kind to others and embracing what really matters. I also really hope athletes will stop trying to push through dangerous symptoms.
RIP Dewey, and shame on USMS for not including it in their daily recap or on the web site. Appalled isn’t a strong enough word.
RIP Louis. My condolences to Mrs. Slater and the family. I am proud of everyone who commits to swim the 1500. It challenges your mind and your heart. There is a lot of time to listen to the voice inside your head and learn who you REALLY are. What a way to go… doing what you LOVE!
Brian Goodell
Ny condolences to Slater’s family and teammates. He is the 2nd guy to die this decade in a SoCal USMS meet; about 5-6 years ago I was in the locker room getting undressed at the SPMA SCY championships in Santa Clarita and a teammate rushed in and shouted that they needed my help because a guy had had a heart attack and stopped swimming in the 500 free. I ran out to the deck but he was already surrounded by paramedics and two other docs who already had the situation under control. He was revived only briefly, but died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
I asked the guy’s name, and nobody recognized it except me:… Read more »
…being punny
He was in great shape with no medical issues.
He was seeded second and would have won if something horribly wrong didn’t happen.
He wasn’t in great shape. He was overweight and probably not even close in shape for his seed time. I was there, (I was a couple heats ahead of the heat) his belly was pretty apparent from a distance where the EMTs, Lifeguards and Paramedics were giving him CPR.
Actually, he was in great shape. He was 64 years old and swam 2 x 1650 in practice 10 days prior and went a 21:00 and a 21:06. I am not sure what you are referring to about his time- those are quality times.
As for his “belly”, the CPR was forcing air into his abdomen. It was full of air!!!!
Way to make assumptions that you know nothing about.
RIP, fellow swimmer.
My heart goes out to his family. I am so sorry this happened.
Sending big hugs out to the swimmers and volunteers at Mission Viejo.
R I P brother ! God knows exactly why it happened .