According to Dr.Dennis in RW ,Pheidippides Cardiomyopathy shows up as an "unspecified cardiomyopathy" on autopsy reports.Some people who engage in chronic endurance training may develop this abnormal shaping of the heart,making it susceptible to cardiac arrhythmia,which can cause sudden death.

I think the operative phrase is "in some people" or "in those who're predisposed"

Although, if you Google this "cardiomyopathy", you'll see page after page come up which could lead you to believe that it's a well recognised and accepted condition ..... as opposed to "Science By Press Release" and another example of journalists getting wind of a "maybe" and running with it (so to speak) as a definite. Journalists do love themselves a nice health scare story and some research facilities are only too happy to provide a sensational press release.

A good many examples of "sudden cardiac death" associated with sport.....usually endurance events......are the result of previously undiagnosed cardiac anomolies. However, although the popular press likes to make a lot of noise when these trgedies happen, they're actually very rare events and most experts in the field don't seem to be recommending aggresive and extensive testing (which is what you'd need).......unless they want a bit o' kudos for describing something novel, that is.

Vivienne