Christopher Clarke, a 45-year-old business owner and Masters national record-holder, was pulled from the water this weekend during the Indy Open Water Challenge. Clarke was rushed to a local hospital where he was later declared dead.
Clarke, a former collegiate swimmer at Michigan State, was among the leaders of the open water race on Sunday morning when he suddenly stopped moving, the Indy Star reports. No official cause of death has been publicized as of Tuesday morning.
Clarke was born in South Africa, but attended college at Michigan State and lived in Carmel, Indiana. He started his own business, Clarke Engineering Services, and served as CEO of it and its sister company Acquire Automation. He was also a founder and CEO of Indianapolis’s Verbal Behavior Center for Autism.
Clarke was an accomplished Masters swimmer – he was a two-time Masters All-American, according to an article on the Indy Aquatic Masters website. Clarke was also a member of the USMS national record-setting 400 free relay from the Indy YMCA for the 100-119 age group. That record was set in 2009 and still stands.
Chris was a great guy. I had the pleasure to have him as a teammate and friend at Michigan State and remained in touch through masters swimming in recent years. I’ll always remember Chris with a smile on his face. Rest in peace, Chris!
Coached Chris at MSU. fantasitc memories. Just a tragic loss. Great family man who was doing all the right things as far as business, community and fitness. My heart goes out to his wife, Jane, and their three children.
100-119 Age Group?? 34-39??
for relays its the sum age of all 4 participants