In a highly unusual and troubling incident at last week’s Ironman Lake Placid, 44-year-old American athlete Harley F. Tong was arrested mid-race after allegedly leaving his 9-year-old son alone for nearly ten hours in the VIP spectator area.
According to race officials, staff noticed a young child sitting alone in the VIP zone for an extended period during the event. After inquiries and growing concern for the boy’s wellbeing, local authorities were contacted. Police confirmed that the child had been left unsupervised for approximately ten hours without any adult supervision or clear knowledge of his whereabouts. While the child was not physically harmed, officials described the situation as unacceptable and potentially dangerous.
Ironman staff, following police instructions, discreetly removed Tong’s gear from the transition zone to compel him to contact race officials. When the athlete inquired about his missing belongings, he was taken into custody on the spot and escorted to the local police station. He now faces charges related to endangering the welfare of a child.
The police later emphasized the seriousness of the incident, stating, “The wellbeing of a child is more important than participating in an Ironman.” Tong was released later that day but will have to appear in court to respond to the charges.
