Five Pro Triathletes Whose Careers Were Cut Short By Heart Disease

Triathletes are often seen as the epitome of peak physical fitness, but even the most conditioned hearts can be vulnerable to disease. In some cases, the consequences are deadly – both on and off the race course.   A Wikipedia list even tracks multisport fatalities, underscoring the risks.

In the best-case scenario, athletes are attuned to their bodies and are able to act before the situation becomes deadly.  These five professional triathletes demonstrate that heart disease doesn’t discriminate, affecting even those who appear to be at their healthiest.  

Timothy O’Donnell

Years Active: 2009 – Present

Heart Condition: Widowmaker Heart Attack

Timothy O’Donnell, one of the most accomplished long-course triathletes, has over 50 podium finishes and 20 wins at major events worldwide. Career highlights include the ITU Long Distance World Championship title in 2009, nine Ironman 70.3 victories, two IRONMAN wins, and multiple top finishes at the Ironman World Championship in Kona. He secured top American spots in 2013 and 2015 and tied the American IRONMAN record in 2013 with an 8:01:32 victory at IRONMAN Brazil; he returned in 2015 and went 7:55:56, his fastest Ironman to date. 

However, in 2021, O’Donnell’s career took an unexpected turn when he suffered a widowmaker heart attack while competing in the Challenge Miami triathlon. As he described in Triathlete Magazine, “I started getting chest pains across my chest, shooting pains down my left arm, then my jaw started to lock up.” Despite these alarming symptoms, he finished the race in 11th place. Later that evening, his condition worsened, and after consulting with his wife and a doctor, he rushed to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with an 80% blockage in his left anterior descending (LAD) artery.

After receiving a stent, O’Donnell returned to competition in 2022 at the Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga: North American 70.3 Championship, placing 6th. He followed that up with a 3rd-place finish at Ironman Des Moines, qualifying him for the Ironman World Championship. While he has retired from full Ironman racing, O’Donnell remains active in XTERRA off-road multisport racing, as he shared with Triathlete Magazine.

Norman Stadler

Years Active: 1988 – 2011 

Heart Condition: Aortic Aneurysm / Valvular Heart Disease

German triathlete Normann Stadler (“The Norminator”) entered the triathlon scene in 1988 when he won the youth category at the Bavarian National Championships at the age of 15.  Stadler’s career quickly progressed, and by 1994, he won the Duathlon World Championship. In 1999, he placed 15th overall at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, competing as an age-group athlete. That performance earned him a spot to return the following year as a professional triathlete, where he placed 3rd. 

Stadler’s big breakthrough came in 2004 when he won the Ironman World Championship in Kona. He repeated this success in 2006, setting the course record for the bike leg with a time of 4:18:23 over the 112-mile stretch. His bike course record stood until 2017, when Cameron Wurf, a former Olympic rower and pro cyclist, broke it with a time of 4:12:54.

In an interview with Bob Babbitt on “Breakfast with Bob,” Normann recounted experiencing unusual fatigue during a training camp. He struggled to keep up with teammates during swim and bike workouts and was soon diagnosed with a significant heart condition. An ultrasound revealed that his aortic valve was damaged, and his aorta was dilated to 7 cm—more than twice the normal size of 2.5 cm—putting him at serious risk for an aortic aneurysm.

Concerned about the potential consequences, Stadler sought medical attention. After a series of tests, doctors confirmed the severity of the issue and scheduled open-heart surgery to repair his valve. The surgery took place just two days after his diagnosis. Fortunately, the surgery was successful, and doctors were able to repair his valve, sparing him the need for a valve replacement.

Despite being cleared to resume competing, Stadler made the difficult decision to retire, citing the toll his health condition had taken on him and his desire to focus on his family. Though he left professional triathlon behind, he remains a respected figure in the sport.

Emma Carney

Years Active:  1993 – 2004

Heart Condition:  Ventricular Tachycardia

Emma Carney, an Australian triathlete, burst onto the scene in 1993, winning her very first triathlon. By 1994, she cemented her dominance in the sport by winning the ITU World Championship with a record margin of 2 minutes and 2 seconds. From 1995 to 1997, Carney was a force to be reckoned with, winning nearly every race she entered; she was ranked the number one triathlete in the world and claimed her second ITU World Championship title.

However, in 1998, Carney’s performance took a downturn. As she reported to Timothy Carlson, after a strong showing at the Ishigaki triathlon, she began to feel different and experienced a decline in her results. In 1998, she DNF’d at the World Championship in Lausanne, and despite her struggles, she pushed herself harder, continuing to compete in races throughout 1998 and 1999, including winning the Australian National Championship and the Australian Long Course Championship in 1999.

She reported that the doctors had a hard time diagnosing her condition, partly because her resting heart rate was low – 21 beats per minute, a sign of a very fit heart.  She said, “In a funny way, what damaged my heart through training also made my heart so strong it adapted to the abnormal rhythm of an attack – so it also saved my life.”  

After evaluating her heart under load and a pulse in excess of 200 beats per minute, doctors diagnosed her with Ventricular Tachycardia, the same condition that sidelined her fellow Aussie triathlete Greg Welch 5 years prior.  She had a defibrillator implanted to manage her heart condition.  In a 2021 interview with Bob Babbitt, she also described having Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, which can often happen as a result of scar tissue replacing the heart muscle.

In 2012, her sister Clar, also a professional triathlete, suffered a cardiac arrest during a training session in a pool.  Bystanders performed CPR for 35 minutes, and then she was transported to a hospital, where she remained unconscious in the ICU for 2 days.  Miraculously, she survived.  

Emma Carney remains active in triathlon through coaching.  She also released a book, “Hard Wired: Life, Death and Triathlon,” in 2020, where she detailed her journey through triathlon, her heart condition, and the personal struggles she faced along the way.

Torbjorn Sindballe

Years Active: 1998 – 2009

Heart Condition: Bicuspid Valve

Torbjorn Sindballe, a renowned Danish professional triathlete, gained international acclaim by winning the silver medal at the 1999 ITU Long Distance World Championships. He went on to win the ITU Long Distance World Championship twice (2004, 2006) and finished 3rd at the 2007 Ironman World Championship. His achievements were all the more impressive given his large frame; at 6’4”, Torbjorn faced unique challenges, particularly when it came to staying cool during the hot run leg of Kona.

In 2005, Sindballe was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve, a congenital heart condition where the aortic valve has two flaps instead of three. This defect caused his heart to work harder than usual. As Sindballe explained to Slowtwitch and Triathlete, his heart had to work 5-10% harder to compensate for the valve’s regurgitation.

A bicuspid valve can lead to severe complications such as aortic dilation (enlargement) or worsening of the valve leak. In 2009, during the Wildflower Long Course Triathlon, Sindballe experienced alarming symptoms, including a sudden drop in heart rate, hyperventilation, blurry vision, and tingling in his arms and face. After careful consideration for his health and his family’s well-being, Sindballe announced his retirement from competition. He now remains involved in the sport as an announcer at major events, as reported by TriRating.

Greg Welch

Greg Welch

Years Active: 1984 – 1999

Heart Condition: Ventricular Tachycardia

Australian Greg Welch (“Welchy”) is one of the “original gangsters” – aka “OGs” – of triathlon.  He’s also a triathlon legend as the only triathlete to have won the “Grand Slam,” which includes the ITU Triathlon World Championships (1990), The Ironman World Championship (1994), the ITU Duathlon World Championships (1993) and the Long Course Triathlon World Championship (1994).  

Welch first got into the sport in 1984 after a friend, Richie Walker, invited him to watch him compete in a triathlon. Sadly, Richie died of cardiac arrest in 1986, just shy of his 21st birthday. This loss would later fuel Welch’s passion for the sport, as he reported to the 3LifeBlog.  

He rose to prominence in the sport in 1989 when he placed 3rd place overall in the Ironman World Championship at Kona with a time of 8:32.  As he reported to Bob Babbitt on “Breakfast with Bob”, the $88k in prize winnings was enough to convince him to leave his construction job and become a full-time professional triathlete.

But in 1999, Welch’s career came to an abrupt halt at the Ironman World Championship. During the race, he began experiencing chest discomfort and difficulty breathing, which he initially mistook for an asthma attack. After taking a break in the water to catch his breath, he continued, but the discomfort persisted during the bike and run portions of the race. Despite these challenges, Welch went on to finish 11th, an astonishing accomplishment given his condition.

After undergoing testing and meeting with doctors, Welch was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia (V-Tach), a serious heart arrhythmia in which his pulse reached as high as 320 bpm. He also discovered that his condition was hereditary—his father had experienced a similar issue, later diagnosed as Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW). This genetic link helped doctors understand why Welch experienced these heart episodes, even though he was in peak physical condition as an elite athlete.

In the years that followed, Welch underwent seven heart surgeries to address his condition. Today, he manages his heart issues with a pacemaker and defibrillator. Despite these challenges, Welch remains an active figure in the triathlon world, providing commentary for the World Triathlon Corporation.

Conclusion

These triathletes who were at the top of their game serve as a powerful reminder that heart disease affects even the fittest individuals. Their stories underscore the importance of regular heart health screenings, listening to your body, and seeking medical attention if something feels wrong. No one is invincible, and even the most elite athletes must prioritize their heart health to continue doing what they love.  As we always say, “You’re never too healthy for heart disease!”