Craig Barrett (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Craig Michael Barrett (born 16 November 1971 in Opunake
) is a New Zealand
athlete specializing in racewalking. He has been the dominant racewalker in New Zealand for many years and is the nation's record holder for the 3 km, 20 km, 30 km, 50 km and 2 hour disciplines. He attended the Olympic Games
in Atlanta (1996), Sydney
(2000) and Athens
(2004). He won a silver medal in the 50 km walk at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
in Manchester
.
, Barrett famously collapsed within one kilometre of the finish line whilst leading the 50 km walk. Although this was reported to be the result of dehydration
, it was probably due to hyponatremia
resulting from excessive perspiration and water intoxication
(it is claimed that Barrett was sweating profusely and drinking large amounts of pure water).
Opunake
Opunake is a small town on the southwest coast of Taranaki in New Zealand's North Island. It is located 45 kilometres southwest of New Plymouth. Rahotu is 16 km to the northwest. Manaia is 29 km to the southeast. State Highway 45 passes through the town.The population was 1368 in the...
) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
athlete specializing in racewalking. He has been the dominant racewalker in New Zealand for many years and is the nation's record holder for the 3 km, 20 km, 30 km, 50 km and 2 hour disciplines. He attended the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
in Atlanta (1996), Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
(2000) and Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
(2004). He won a silver medal in the 50 km walk at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
2002 Commonwealth Games
The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
Personal bests
| Distance | Time | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3000 m walk | 11:21.50 NR New Zealand records in athletics The following are the national records in athletics in New Zealand maintained by New Zealand's national athletics federation: Athletics New Zealand .... |
Wanganui | 1997 |
| 5000 m walk | 19:34.10 | Auckland | 1996 |
| 20000 m walk | 1:25:53.8 NR New Zealand records in athletics The following are the national records in athletics in New Zealand maintained by New Zealand's national athletics federation: Athletics New Zealand .... |
North Shore | 1998 |
| 20 km walk | 1:22:20 NR New Zealand records in athletics The following are the national records in athletics in New Zealand maintained by New Zealand's national athletics federation: Athletics New Zealand .... |
Adelaide | 1998 |
| 30000 m walk | 2:09:20.4 NR New Zealand records in athletics The following are the national records in athletics in New Zealand maintained by New Zealand's national athletics federation: Athletics New Zealand .... |
North Shore | 1998 |
| Marathon walk | 3:08:44 NR New Zealand records in athletics The following are the national records in athletics in New Zealand maintained by New Zealand's national athletics federation: Athletics New Zealand .... |
New Plymouth | 1999 |
| 50000 m walk | 3:52:35.55 NR New Zealand records in athletics The following are the national records in athletics in New Zealand maintained by New Zealand's national athletics federation: Athletics New Zealand .... |
Christchurch | 2002 |
| 50 km walk | 3:48:04 NR New Zealand records in athletics The following are the national records in athletics in New Zealand maintained by New Zealand's national athletics federation: Athletics New Zealand .... |
New Plymouth | 2001 |
| 2 hour walk | 27820m NR New Zealand records in athletics The following are the national records in athletics in New Zealand maintained by New Zealand's national athletics federation: Athletics New Zealand .... |
North Shore | 1998 |
50 km walk results
-
- 1995 IAAF World Championships 22nd
- 1996 Olympic Games 33rd
- 1997 IAAF World Championships 13th
- 1998 Commonwealth Games DNF
- 1999 IAAF World Championships 7th
- 2000 Olympic Games 18th
- 2001 IAAF World Championships DNF
- 2002 Commonwealth Games 2nd
- 2003 IAAF World Championships DSQ
- 2004 Olympic Games 29th
- 2005 IAAF World Championships DSQ
- 2006 Commonwealth Games 4th
1998 Commonwealth Games collapse
During the 1998 Commonwealth Games1998 Commonwealth Games
The 1998 XVI Commonwealth Games were held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 11 September to 21 September 1998 making it the first Asian country to act as host and the last Commonwealth Games for the 20th century. A record 70 nations supplied 3638 athletes...
, Barrett famously collapsed within one kilometre of the finish line whilst leading the 50 km walk. Although this was reported to be the result of dehydration
Dehydration
In physiology and medicine, dehydration is defined as the excessive loss of body fluid. It is literally the removal of water from an object; however, in physiological terms, it entails a deficiency of fluid within an organism...
, it was probably due to hyponatremia
Hyponatremia
Hyponatremia is an electrolyte disturbance in which the sodium concentration in the serum is lower than normal. In the vast majority of cases, hyponatremia occurs as a result of excess body water diluting the serum sodium and is not due to sodium deficiency. Sodium is the dominant extracellular...
resulting from excessive perspiration and water intoxication
Water intoxication
Water intoxication, also known as water poisoning, is a potentially fatal disturbance in brain functions that results when the normal balance of electrolytes in the body is pushed outside of safe limits by over-consumption of water....
(it is claimed that Barrett was sweating profusely and drinking large amounts of pure water).