{{short description|Australian water skier}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Sarah Teelow | birth_name = Sarah Louise Teelow | birth_date = {{Birth date|1993|01|22|df=y}} | birth_place = Wellington, New South Wales, Australia | death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|11|24|1993|01|22|df=y}} | death_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | occupation = Water skier | years_active = 2007–2013 }} '''Sarah Louise Teelow''' (22 January 1993 – 24 November 2013) was an Australian water skier. The daughter of parents who were water skiers and who operate a swimming pool business, she competed in the sport from the age of 13. Teelow entered events across the globe and won the 2013 Waterski Racing World Championship in the Formula 2 category. Teelow was killed from an atlanto-occipital dislocation she sustained in an accident during the 2013 Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic.
==Personal life== Teelow was born in the Wellington Hospital in Wellington, New South Wales on 22 January 1993 to Tania (née Williams) and Chris Teelow;<ref name="TeelowDeathInquiry" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Belgium-%e2%80%93-can-Australias-Water-ski-dominance-continue/-55001|title=Belgium – can Australia's Water ski dominance continue?|last=Wonders|first=Bob|date=16 February 2009|publisher=Sail World|access-date=14 November 2019}}</ref> both of her parents competed in water skiing events and her mother is a two-time world champion.<ref name="SMHDeath">{{cite news|last1=Carroll|first1=Lucy|last2=Han|first2=Esther|title=Water skier Sarah Teelow dies after race accident|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/water-skier-sarah-teelow-dies-after-race-accident-20131126-2y6ki.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=26 November 2013|access-date=13 November 2019}}</ref> The family operates a swimming pool business in Wellington and reside in the town. Teelow has a younger brother, Jarrod.<ref name=TeelowDeathInquiry>{{cite web|last=O'Sullivan|first=Teresa|title=Inquest into the death of Sarah Teelow|url=http://www.coroners.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Sarah%20Teelow%20Findings%2031%20May%202018.pdf|publisher=Coroner's Court of New South Wales|date=31 May 2018|access-date=13 November 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306031129/http://www.coroners.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Sarah%20Teelow%20Findings%2031%20May%202018.pdf|archive-date=6 March 2019}}</ref> She was taught at the St Mary's Catholic School in Wellington and completed her education at the St John's College in Dubbo.<ref name="CWDTribute">{{cite news|last=Barkley|first=Michelle|title=Town mourns the loss of a true 'champion'|url=https://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/story/1933767/town-mourns-the-loss-of-a-true-champion/|work=Central Western Daily|date=26 November 2013|access-date=13 November 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=3 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103205814/https://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/story/1933767/town-mourns-the-loss-of-a-true-champion/}}</ref> Teelow took part in athletics events for the Wellington Little Athletics club.<ref name="WTimesNov2001">{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Michael|title=Sarah sets new record|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A305001537/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=34fa5fc4|work=Wellington Times|date=11 November 2001|access-date=13 November 2019|via=Gale OneFile: News|url-access=subscription}}</ref> At the time of her death, she was enrolled on a bachelor of science human movement course at the University of Technology Sydney.<ref name=GuardianDeath>{{cite news|title=Waterski champion Sarah Teelow dies after falling in high-speed river race|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/26/waterski-champion-sarah-teelow-dies-after-high-speed-fall|work=The Guardian|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=25 November 2013|access-date=13 November 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418025217/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/26/waterski-champion-sarah-teelow-dies-after-high-speed-fall|archive-date=18 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="SBSTributes">{{cite news|title=Friends remember star water skier Teelow|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/friends-remember-star-water-skier-teelow|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=26 November 2013|access-date=13 November 2019}}</ref>
==Career== Aged 13, Teelow began competing in water skiing events. She learnt to ski on the Burrendong Dam in 2007.<ref name="DLiberalSep13">{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Megan|title=Water skier wins Formula 2 category in Spain|url=https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/1790976/water-skier-wins-formula-2-category-in-spain/|work=Daily Liberal|date=21 September 2013|access-date=13 November 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116040123/http://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/1790976/water-skier-wins-formula-2-category-in-spain/|archive-date=16 January 2017}}</ref> Teelow was named the Australian and Australian Capital Territory Junior Skier of the Year for 2008 and the New South Wales Junior Skier of the Year.<ref name=WTimesJuly08>{{cite news|title=Mother, daughter dominate State|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A294379743/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=bd625ffb|work=Wellington Times|date=21 July 2008|access-date=13 November 2019|via=Gale OneFile: News|url-access=subscription|archive-date=3 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103205815/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA294379743&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=bd625ffb|url-status=live}}</ref> She secured qualification to the 2009 Waterski Racing World Championships in Belgium at the national selection rounds in Lake Charm. Teelow prepared for the competition by broadening her experience on rough waters with ski sessions in Botany Bay and Port Jackson.<ref name="DLiberalApr09">{{cite news|last=Nutley|first=Cindy|title=Mum's the word as 16-year-old Sarah follows mother's footsteps to World Championships|url=https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/846591/mums-the-word-as-16-year-old-sarah-follows-mothers-footsteps-to-world-championships/|work=Daily Liberal|date=22 April 2009|access-date=13 November 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=3 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103205739/https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/846591/mums-the-word-as-16-year-old-sarah-follows-mothers-footsteps-to-world-championships/}}</ref> She came fourth and fifth overall in the concluding two rounds for a final finish of fourth-place overall.<ref name=WTimesAug09>{{cite news|last=McManus|first=Tegan|title=Teelow fourth in world|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A293370605/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=71cf3094|work=Wellington Times|date=7 August 2009|access-date=13 November 2019|via=Gale OneFile: News|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
Thereafter, Teelow made appearances in competitions across the world, in such countries as Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.<ref name="DLiberalSep13" /> She participated the Catalina Ski Race,<ref name=2011Catalina>{{cite web|title=Race Results: 2011 Catalina Ski Race|url=http://www.catalinaskirace.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/2011results.pdf|publisher=Catalina Ski Race|date=June 2013|access-date=13 November 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004115405/http://www.catalinaskirace.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/2011results.pdf|archive-date=4 October 2015}}</ref> the Grafton Bridge to Bridge,<ref name=2011BridgetoBridge>{{cite web|title=2011 Grafton Bridge to Bridge – Sunday Results 2nd October 2011|url=http://www.graftonb2b.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2011Results.pdf|publisher=Grafton Bridge to Bridge|date=2 October 2011|access-date=13 November 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301123501/http://www.graftonb2b.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2011Results.pdf|archive-date=1 March 2019}}</ref> and the Bridge to Bridge events in 2011.<ref name=2011Outright>{{cite web|title=2011 Bridge to Bridge Outright Results|url=https://www.bridge2bridge.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2011-Outright-Results.pdf|publisher=Bridge to Bridge|access-date=13 November 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307185524/https://www.bridge2bridge.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2011-Outright-Results.pdf|archive-date=7 March 2019}}</ref> Teelow sustained a broken ankle during an event in 2012 and she spent time recuperating. In September 2013, she won the Formula 2 category of that year's World Waterski Racing Championships in the Spanish archipelago of the Canary Islands. According to Teelow's father, she planned to progress to the Formula 1/Opens class as the next step of her career.<ref name="DLiberalSep13" />
==Death== On the morning of 24 November 2013, she partook in the {{Convert|75|mi|km|abbr=on}} Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic on the Hawkesbury River to the north of Sydney.<ref name=ABCDeath>{{cite news|title=World waterskiing champion Sarah Teelow dies from race injuries|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-26/world-water-skiing-champion-sarah-teelow-dies-from-race-injurii/5116172|publisher=ABC News|date=26 November 2013|access-date=13 November 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919143755/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-26/world-water-skiing-champion-sarah-teelow-dies-from-race-injurii/5116172|archive-date=19 September 2018}}</ref><ref name=LATimesDeathReport>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2013-nov-26-la-sp-sn-sarah-teelow-dies-20131126-story.html|title=Water-skiing champ Sarah Teelow dies after crash at start of race|last=Schilken|first=Chuck|date=26 November 2013|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=14 November 2019|archive-date=3 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103205807/https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2013-nov-26-la-sp-sn-sarah-teelow-dies-20131126-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Soon after the race had commenced,<ref name="SMHDeath" /> which was held on calm waters and with a negated wind, Teelow passed under the Hawkesbury River railway bridge at around {{Convert|75|to|85|mph|km/h}} before her driver slowed and an observer raised his left arm to inform her of incoming minor waves. Teelow hit the first wave without incident until her ski was observed to launch airborne ahead of her approximately {{Convert|2.7|km|mi|abbr=on}} into the race. She flipped and cartwheeled along the water; her ski helmet detached from the first contact with the water.<ref name="TeelowDeathInquiry" />
Teelow had contusions in the upper part of her thoracic and the lower part of her cervical vertebrae;<ref name="TeelowDeathInquiry" /> she went into cardiac arrest and the emergency services resuscitated her upon being moved to another slipway.<ref name="ABCDeath" /><ref name=UPITeelow>{{Cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/blog/2013/11/26/Sarah-Teelow-water-ski-champion-dies-in-accident/5901385476248/|title=Sarah Teelow, water ski champion, dies in accident|last=Linares|first=Veronica|date=26 November 2013|access-date=15 November 2019|work=United Press International|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115062909/https://www.upi.com/blog/2013/11/26/Sarah-Teelow-water-ski-champion-dies-in-accident/5901385476248/|archive-date=15 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> She was transported by helicopter to the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney a "critical condition".<ref name="SMHDeath" /><ref name=UPITeelow/> Teelow was placed on life support before she was declared dead from her injuries at approximately 17:55 local time.<ref name="TeelowDeathInquiry" /><ref name="ABCDeath" /> She was the seventh water skier in Australia to die from injuries sustained over the previous five years.<ref name=LATimesDeathReport/><ref name=UPITeelow/> A subsequent limited autopsy determined Teelow died from an atlanto-occipital dislocation that caused blunt force head and neck injuries due to her striking water at high speed.<ref name="TeelowDeathInquiry" /> On the afternoon on 8 December, a memorial to celebrate Teelow's life was held in her memory at the Hunstanton Ski Club.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.skirace.net/great-britain-celebrates-the-life-of-sarah-teelow|title=Great Britain Celebrates Sarah Teelow's Life|last=Brooks|first=Karen|date=November 2013|publisher=SkiRace.net|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405140212/http://www.skirace.net/great-britain-celebrates-the-life-of-sarah-teelow|archive-date=5 April 2016|access-date=14 November 2019}}</ref>
Her death was investigated by the New South Wales Police Force and the Roads & Maritime Services with co-operation from Ski Racing Australia;<ref name="SMHDeath" /><ref name="GuardianDeath" /><ref name="ABCDeath" /> the police prepared a report for the New South Wales coroner.<ref name="SMHDeath" /> The results of the investigation into Teelow's death were published on 31 May 2018. According to the report, it was unable to determine where the wave that Teelow struck originated or whether the ski she used contributed to her accident. The report found her helmet was not a contributing factor to her death.<ref name="TeelowDeathInquiry" /> The New South Wales deputy state coroner Teresa O'Sullivan recommended Ski Racing Australia develop technical specifications for ski helmets and flotation devices to suit water skiers and inspect and secure safety equipment before the start of races. She also called for the governing body and the Roads and Maritime Services to consider adopting speed restrictions in the Formula 2 category.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/sarah-teelow-mother-tania-teelow-fears-more-water-ski-deaths-after-inquest-recommendations/1b68f3e7-5c86-43d2-a100-7a9df5483d78|title=Sarah Teelow's mother fears more water ski deaths as inquest makes recommendations|last=Stefanovic|first=Peter|date=31 May 2018|access-date=16 November 2019|publisher=Nine News|archive-date=3 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103205740/https://www.9news.com.au/national/sarah-teelow-mother-tania-teelow-fears-more-water-ski-deaths-after-inquest-recommendations/1b68f3e7-5c86-43d2-a100-7a9df5483d78|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/miss-my-girl-sarah-teelow-s-mother-urges-water-ski-safety-overhaul-20180531-p4zimg.html|title='Miss my girl': Sarah Teelow's mother urges water-ski safety overhaul|last=Megan|first=Gorrey|date=31 May 2018|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=14 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605235546/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/miss-my-girl-sarah-teelow-s-mother-urges-water-ski-safety-overhaul-20180531-p4zimg.html|archive-date=5 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Personality and legacy== Teelow was described by her friends as a "champion on and off the water" and her former school co-ordinator called her "a beautiful girl with such a joyous smile".<ref name="SBSTributes" /> According to her father, she saved the lives of six individuals through the donation of her organs.<ref name=OrganDonationNewsComAu>{{cite news|last=Hansen|first=Jane|title=Water ski champion Sarah Teelow gives the gift of life to six strangers by ticking the box for organ donation|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/water-ski-champion-sarah-teelow-gives-the-gift-of-life-to-six-strangers-by-ticking-the-box-for-organ-donation/news-story/f67ef5dd3456964131295e00d6dd6550|publisher=News.com.au|date=12 December 2013|access-date=13 November 2019|url-status=live|archive-date=3 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103205742/https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/water-ski-champion-sarah-teelow-gives-the-gift-of-life-to-six-strangers-by-ticking-the-box-for-organ-donation/news-story/f67ef5dd3456964131295e00d6dd6550}}</ref> The 2014 Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic was allowed to commence as scheduled by organisers and was converted into a memorial in Teelow's honour.<ref name=TeelowTribute2014>{{cite news|title=Emotional tribute to Wellington water skier, Sarah Teelow at Bridge to Bridge|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-10/emotional-tribute-to-wellington-waterskier2c-sarah-teelow/5878482|publisher=ABC News|date=10 November 2014|access-date=14 November 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517014700/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-10/emotional-tribute-to-wellington-waterskier2c-sarah-teelow/5878482|archive-date=17 May 2017}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Teelow, Sarah}} Category:1993 births Category:2013 deaths Category:Sportswomen from New South Wales Category:Australian water skiers Category:Female water skiers Category:University of Technology Sydney alumni Category:Sport deaths in Australia Category:Accidental deaths in New South Wales Category:21st-century Australian sportswomen Category:Sportspeople from Wellington, New South Wales