Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition

Jean-Francois Alain was a healthy father who had competed in triathlons for more than a decade.

He was going to turn 50 this year and his widow, Veronique Tremblay, says he set a goal for himself to complete the Ironman triathlon to mark the milestone.

The grueling event requires a lot of preparation, so along with his training at home in Montreal, he and a friend signed up for a half ironman in Galveston, Tx. on April 7, 2024.

Tremblay, who normally travelled with her husband and shared his love of running, recalls the last time they spoke. It was over FaceTime and Alain had just finished carbo-loading to get ready for the big day.

“He was thrilled,” she said. “I told him to stay safe.”

She said he was in great health, and had even gone to the doctor the week before he left.

The next morning, during the first leg of the triathlon — the swim — something went wrong. According to Tremblay, he had raised his hand to signal for help. What happened in the minutes between that signal and when he arrived at the hospital is now part of an investigation the family has arranged through Houston attorney William Moye.