Christopher Clarke
Chris was a Transvaal swimmer coached by Dean Price. He matriculated from St. Stithians in
1986, after which he went to the USA and swam for Michigan State University.
He became a resident of Carmel, Indiana, where he was a prominent local businessman, entrepreneur, and former Eli Lilly engineer. He was the founder of Clarke Engineering Services and Acquire Automation. He served as the CEO and board president of the Verbal Behavior Center for Autism, a non-profit school he founded in Indianapolis.
Clarke was a 2009 U.S. Masters Swimming Open Water All-American and a multiple state champion in pool events while representing Indy Aquatic Masters. He also was a competitive cyclist who swam collegiately at Michigan State University. A native of South Africa, Clarke was owner of Clarke Engineering Services and Acquire Automation.
Masters national record-holder Christopher Clarke dies during open water event
Christopher Clarke, a 45-year-old business owner and Masters national record-holder, was pulled from the water this weekend during the Indy Open Water Challenge. Clarke was rushed to a local hospital where he was later declared dead.
Clarke, a former collegiate swimmer at Michigan State, was among the leaders of the open water race on Sunday morning when he suddenly stopped moving, the Indy Star reports. No official cause of death has been publicized as of Tuesday morning.
Clarke was born in South Africa, but attended college at Michigan State and lived in Carmel, Indiana. He started his own business, Clarke Engineering Services, and served as CEO of it and its sister company Acquire Automation. He was also a founder and CEO of Indianapolis’s Verbal Behavior Center for Autism.
Clarke was an accomplished Masters swimmer – he was a two-time Masters All-American, according to an article on the Indy Aquatic Masters website. Clarke was also a member of the USMS national record-setting 400 free relay from the Indy YMCA for the 100-119 age group. That record was set in 2009 and still stands.
https://swimswam.com/masters-national-record-holder-christopher-clarke-dies-open-water-event/
