Brazilian athlete and triathlete, Mara Flávia, drowned during the open-water swimming endurance portion of the Texas Triathlon in Lake Woodlands on Saturday. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the victim “drowned while participating in the swim portion. The swim portion is typically the only segment where minor medical issues can lead to drowning. The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) suggests that even the strongest swimmers can be sidelined due to the chaos of open water. The most overlooked risk is the temperature of the water, which can cause an involuntary gasp reflex leading to water inhalation before the swimmer even starts their race. Tyler McDonald from NASM also advised that athletes should master the "safety stroke" to lower their heart rate.