Hong Kong triathlon body says Olympic athlete’s wetsuit damage result of ‘intense competition’
- Olympic triathlete Jason Ng says he is devastated by wetsuit damage incident and failure to complete 40km cycling leg of the competition
Ng’s tightfitting suit and its zip were damaged after “physical contact” with another athlete and it let in water, which caused drag, and he was unable close it back up again.
But the Triathlon Association of Hong Kong China said the incident did not mean there was a fault in the wetsuit.
“The unexpected damage to the zip during the swimming segment was due to the intense competition and physical struggle between the athletes and does not reflect any quality issues with a particular brand,” an association spokesman said.
The association was speaking a day after Ng, 24, said he had a good start in the swimming event alongside South African Jamie Riddle.
His suit was torn as the triathletes bunched together under a bridge only 200 metres into the race on the River Seine.