A tragic incident occurred at the Austrian National Aquabike Championships at the Trumer Triathlon last Sunday. Swiss athlete Alexander Schawalder passed away after presumably suffering from a cardiac arrest during the swim. The lifeboat was quickly on the scene, but the resuscitation attempts initiated directly on the boat were unsuccessful.
Although he had no opportunity to take part in aquabike events in his home country, Alexander was one of the most successful aquabike athletes in the young history of our sport. Between 2018 and 2024 he became World Champion in his age group three times and brought home no less than four titles in European Championships. He had been leading or at least sitting in one of the top ranks of the Aquabike.World Ranking in his age group ever since it was introduced. Just three weeks before the race in Obertrum, he showed an absolutely impressive performance at Challenge Walchsee where he finished 3rd overall, just about a minute behind the winner.
Despite finishing only a few minutes apart at the 2021 European Championships in Walchsee, I never met Alexander in person. In a post of the Swiss Triathlon Federation, he was described as “a highly valued member of our triathlon community. His positive charisma and deep commitment to the sport inspired many. From his participation in the first triathlon world championship in 1989 to numerous successes in the age group categories, Alex Schawalder lived the sport of triathlon with exceptional passion, tireless commitment and palpable joy.”
May you rest in peace.