Female athlete, 38, found dead after disappearing during brutal event

A Brazilian influencer and athlete has tragically died at the age of 38 after disappearing while competing in the brutal Texas Ironman as tributes pour in

Tributes have been paid to a Brazilian influencer and sports enthusiast after she died while competing in the gruelling Texas Ironman.

Mara Flavia Araujo, 38, passed away after disappearing in the murky waters of Lake Woodlands outside Houston. The victim, who was brought to the surface around 9.30am local time yesterday after a dive team was called in to assist with recovery operations, has not yet been officially named. But Mara’s sister Melissa Araujo confirmed she was the dead woman to Brazilian press overnight as an investigation into the horror incident was launched.

The tragic athlete had nearly 60,000 followers on Instagram as well as her own YouTube channel. She posted a selfie just a day before she died, showing her in her swimwear by a pool about to start a training session, alongside a message saying: “Another day of work.”

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Mara, who was born in Sao Paulo, started working as a radio presenter but had recently turned to DJing part-time.

She told her Instagram followers in a recent post how she became a triathlete nearly eight years ago after being diagnosed with a health problem, saying: “I saw a way to be reborn, God and sport.” In 2022 she revealed she had come third in the Brasilia Triathlon.

Jackson Rodrigues also, from Sao Paulo, said after learning of Mara’s death: “It was a pleasure to get to get you over social media, even if was from afar. Rest in peace.”

Another fan, Felipe Antunes, wrote: “May God receive you with the same care and tenderness that you’ve always given others. Rest in peace, beautiful.”

Friend Luis Taveira, suggesting Mara had health problems, even though her cause of death has not yet been revealed, said “She was ill before the trip, she wasn’t okay.

“My wife and I spoke with her to say she was too weak for this race, although a couple of days ago when we talked to her, she insisted she was okay. I still cannot believe what’s happened.”

Responding to questions from one of her Instagram followers about what was wrong with her, Luis replied: “She was weakened because of flu but still training hard.”

Organisers of the Texas triathlon said in a statement late yesterday: “We are saddened to confirm the death of a race participant during the swim portion of today’s Ironman Texas triathlon.

“We send our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the athlete, and will offer them our support as they go through this very difficult time.

“Our gratitude goes out to the first responders for the assistance.”

The swim section of the race, officially named the Memorial Hermann Ironman Texas, lasts about 2.4 miles and the average water temperature is about 74 degrees. This is not the first death at the annual triathlon.

In 2017 Glen Bruemmer, 54, died during the swimming portion after he went under the water near the end of the leg. Divers pulled Bruemmer out of the water and he was pronounced dead at a hospital.