BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhuanet) -- The first death in the eight-year history of the New York City triathlon occurred Sunday when a 32-year-old man died during the 1,500-meter swim in the Hudson River.

    Race director Bill Burke said other competitors alerted medical personnel to the man and he was unconscious when he was pulled from the water just before 8 a.m.

    Burke said the man's family was in Argentina, and he wasn't being identified by race officials until they were contacted.

    "It's a tragic day for the event," Burke said.

    Ellen Borakove, a spokesman for the medical examiner's office, said an autopsy will take place Monday.

    About 3,000 competitors participated in the triathlon, which consisted of the swim in the Hudson River, a 40-kilometer bike ride along the Henry Hudson Parkway, and a 10-kilometer run in Central Park.

    Greg Bennett, of Australia, won the men's division in 1 hour, 46 minutes, 31 seconds. Liz Blatchford, also of Australia, was the women's champion, finishing in 1:58:35.

    There also was a death at last month's Hy-Vee Triathlon, which was doubling as one part of the U.S. Olympic trials. A 46-year-old Iowa man died after he was pulled from the water.

    (Agencies)