The athlete who died during the swim section of IRONMAN Texas has now been officially named.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office have confirmed her identity in a statement to NBC News.

It read: “MCSO can confirm that Mara Flavia Souza Araujo, 38, of Brazil died while competing in the Ironman event in The Woodlands on Saturday.

“Preliminary investigations indicate she drowned during the swimming portion of the event.”

Experienced triathlete

A fitness influencer with over 60,000 followers on Instagram, she was an experienced triathlete.

In recent years she had taken part in several full-distance IRONMAN events and 70.3 races.

They included IRONMAN Texas in 2023 and the age-group IRONMAN World Championships in Kona later that year.

IRONMAN statement

On Saturday, race organisers IRONMAN made a short statement and expressed their condolences.

They said: “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 their assistance.”