Winner of Underwater Breath-Holding Competition Remembered as Hero

Neighbors and loved ones gathered poolside at the Warren County Recreational Center on Saturday to pay respects to local sports hero, Ryan Griffiths, 13, who won the 4th Annual US Breath-Holders Association (UBA) Ohio State Championship. 

“You have to be willing to sacrifice everything to win,” said John Crawford, Griffiths’ lifelong breathing coach. “Ryan really personified that this weekend, and now he’s gone out on top as a floating champion. Kids will imitate this performance in their bathtubs for a long time.”

Incredibly, Griffiths continues to break his own record as UBA rules state official scorers must time any athlete floating facing down in the competition area until a hazmat team removes them, regardless if their parent has already signed a Do Not Resuscitate waiver.

While local police have already fenced off the area to let Griffiths continue his once-in-a-lifetime athletic performance, Warren County officials announced they will designate the space as “The Ryan Griffiths Memorial Pool.”