Sometimes a tragedy happens and sometimes it's someone you know.

A 17-year-old triathlete collapsed after crossing the finish line of a South-east Asia Games selection race and died soon afterwards, news reports said on Monday. Thaddeus Cheong, a first-year student at Raffles Junior College, swam 1.5 kilometres, cycled 40 kilometres and ran 10 kilometres, according to The Straits Times. He clocked a personal best of 2 hours, 9 minutes, coming in third in the event on Sunday. Then the youth collapsed. Police classified the case as unnatural death. A coroner's inquiry will be held. Cheong was unconscious and foaming at the mouth when he was taken to Chiangi General Hospital. Doctors were unable to resuscitate him. The trial was the first of two to decide the two male and two female triathletes to represent Singapore in the year-end regional sports meet. Cheong looked confident, happy and ready to go before the start, said Triathlon Association of Singapore senior executive Jerry Seah. "He looked fresh throughout the race," participant Sikhander Singh was quoted as saying. "I had never seen him look better on the run."Angeline Chong, the teenager's mother, said her son was so eager to secure a slot in the games that he had doubled his training stints to twice daily during school holidays.

My deepest condolenses to the Cheong family for the loss of their eldest son,Thaddeus. May they find the strength to stay strong at times like these.

Thaddeus, even though i've only met you a few times and I didn't know you so well I think you were a great guy and a good example for your younger brother.