FORMER ELITE TRIATHLETE SPENCER KORWIN DIES AFTER MORNING SWIM DURING FAMILY VACATION

SHELTER ISLAND, N.Y. — A morning swim that was supposed to be part of a family getaway ended in tragedy for Spencer Korwin, a former elite U.S. triathlete, husband and father of two young daughters.

Korwin, 38, was vacationing with his family on Shelter Island when he went into the water near a dock at The Pridwin Hotel on the morning of September 2, 2026.

He entered the water at around 8 a.m. but did not return.

His wife, Carly, alerted hotel staff, prompting an emergency response and a large search involving local authorities and dive teams. After several hours, divers located Korwin underwater near the dock. He was pronounced dead.

Police said the incident appeared to be an accidental drowning, while the official cause and manner of death were to be determined by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office.

A LIFE DEFINED BY ATHLETICS AND WELLNESS

Korwin had spent much of his life pushing himself physically.

An accomplished triathlete, he represented the United States at the 2012 Triathlon World Championships in Auckland, New Zealand. His athletic career also included sponsorship from Gatorade.

After competing at an elite level, Korwin continued his connection to health and fitness.

He founded Korwin Health & Wellness, where he worked with clients on personalized fitness and wellness programs. He also created a summer camp for children in Southampton, helping young people stay active and connected with the outdoors.

His professional life reflected a passion for health that had been part of his identity for years.

But to his family, his most important achievement was never a race or championship.

It was being a father.

‘HIS DAUGHTERS WERE HIS WORLD’

Korwin and his wife, Carly, were parents to two young daughters, Sadie, 4, and Colette, 1.

For the family, his sudden death means growing up without the everyday moments they expected to share with him.

Friends and loved ones have remembered Korwin not only for his athletic accomplishments, but for his dedication to his family and the people around him.

A fundraiser established after his death has sought to support his daughters and their future, with an outpouring of donations from people touched by the family’s loss.

A SUDDEN LOSS

Korwin’s death came during what should have been a peaceful family vacation.

The circumstances have been especially difficult because he was an experienced athlete whose life had been closely connected to physical activity and swimming.

Local authorities have said there was no indication of criminal activity surrounding his death.

His funeral was held in Manhattan on September 6, where family and friends gathered to remember his life.

For those who knew Spencer Korwin, however, his legacy extends far beyond his achievements as an athlete.

He was a husband, a father, a son, a brother and a friend.

His daughters will grow up with memories of the man who was at the center of their family — a father whose life was devoted to his loved ones, his work and his passion for helping others live healthier lives.

Spencer Korwin’s journey ended at just 38 years old.

But the impact he made on the people who loved him will continue through the family and community he left behind.