Bobbi C wrote:
That's not what I said. Most of the time a death by Pneumonia is correlated with individuals that have weak immune systems - ie a young child or an elderly person.
Usually world class athletes do not die of pneumonia in the 21st century. I'm not accusing anyone of anything. However, just saying pneumonia as a cause of death is a bit curious.
Recently, a work colleague traveled to Africa, and when he returned he remarked how unfortunately common place people were dying of AIDS. He specifically mentioned how there were people just laying in the street literal abandoned and left to die.
As a runner it got me thinking, International Elite Athletes party pretty hard regardless of race, sex, creed etc. However, it doesn't take a phd. sociologist to put all this together. And, I've wondered (bc i work in science) if any of the great African Athletes have contracted the disease. I was at a race where a South African coach had expressed frustration and concern with some of the athletes in his camp b/c they refuse to use condoms because it is against their cultural beliefs.
The running world lost a legend, but there's nothing wrong with wondering why a relatively young legend succumbed to pneumonia in this day in age. And, if you lived in the 70s/80s/90s, you know that pneumonia is one of the AIDS related illnesses. Generally, Pneumonia won't kill a model of superior health/fitness.
So, it is certainly a tragedy... But, my scientific curiosity wonders how/why it happened and there's nothing wrong with that. Even if it isn't HIV/AIDS related, there may be some precursor that lead to this and I wondered what it is?