Chris Legh Retires From Ironmans

Last year, Chris Legh appeared in the Gatorade commercial entitled, "Origins III." It told the story of Legh, who collapsed at the 1997 Ironman just 50 yards from the finish. The commercial goes through how Legh's problem was all about hydration and how, with a hydration strategy devised by the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, Legh was able to win the 2004 triathlon at Coeur d'Alene. In August, I conducted one of the most revealing interviews with Legh (see it here: http://firstinthirst.typepad.com/darren_rovells_blog_on_al/2005/09/interview_with_.html) in which he told me how close he was to death and how he had to have part of his large intestines removed because he was so dehydrated. But now Legh has another problem. Dehydration might not have been the primary factor that led to his collapse. Legh started coughing up blood while competing in the Panthers Ironman Australia. Legh had reportedly had the same problem at other Ironmans, as well.

But this time, it was really bad and Legh had to walk to complete his race -- he finished in 45th place. He announced his retirement from the Ironmans and then proceeded to release this statement: "I, in fact, have a congenital heart defect, known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO). This is completely separate to my other much publicized intestinal problems. It is basically a hole in my heart which didn't close over properly at birth. When I get to about four hours into an Ironman, the pressure becomes too much and the hole flips open a little bigger and blood starts to backflow into my lungs. My breathing starts to get shallow, I start to wheeze, and then I start to cough. Eventually I start to cough up blood, as my lungs become congested with it."

So did Legh know about this a couple years ago? What did Gatorade know? Should they have known? And finally, does it in any way sacrifice what was portrayed in the commercial?

This all being said, I want to say that I have nothing personal against Chris. He was a great interview and I wish him and his family the best with his condition.

Comments

[David]

Well at least he admitted it. Unlike the current problem in MLB and such. Is it wrong he lied and covered it up from Gatorade? Absolutely.

[Darren Rovell]

I'm not sure he covered it up from Gatorade. News articles say he learned in June.