Brazilian Fitness Influencer Mara Flavia Dies During Ironman Texas Swim

Her last post was about enjoying life. Hours later, she was gone.

Mara Flavia Souza Araujo, a 38-year-old Brazilian fitness influencer, drowned during the swimming leg of Ironman Texas at Lake Woodlands on April 18. She was found in roughly 10 feet of water later that day. Preliminary findings point to drowning during the swim portion of the race.

Before the event, she posted in Portuguese: “Enjoy this ride on the bullet train that is life.”

Araujo was no novice. She had completed at least nine triathlons over nine years and had more than 60,000 followers on Instagram. The race went ahead but the tragedy cast a shadow over the entire event. Investigations are ongoing.