13 Years After, USA Swimming Announces Special Honor For Late Athlete

Swimmers are a breed of people that not just glide through waters but also prevail in our hearts. Their feats are not possible without years of regimented training, diet, discipline, and a lot of fortitude. We’ve witnessed countless successes in the pool. Sometimes, though, grave mistakes happen. One such formidable swimmer came upon the throes of death. His career as an open water swimmer was cut short in an untimely fashion, a life claimed too soon.

Fran Crippen competed in the FINA Open Water 10-kilometer World Cup in Fujairah on October 23, 2010. He couldn’t complete the race and was found floating in the water two hours later. It is unknown if there is a specific cause behind that unfortunate event. They rushed Crippen to the hospital, only to be pronounced dead. USA Swimming, which carried out an investigation in the aftermath, decided to keep his memory burning alive. His undying talent, though, was never for recompense, as he was on his way to chart a legacy in swimming.

USA Swimming to institute an award in Fran Crippen’s name

USA Swimming will honor the memory of Fran Crippen by bestowing an award in his name posthumously. They announced the same via social media, with the hashtag #neverforgetFran. The 2023 Golden Goggle Awards, a ceremony to be held on the 19th of November in Los Angeles, will mark a little over 13 years since Crippen’s passing. Everyone he came across remembered Crippen fondly. The stories surrounding the deceased swimmer are “imbued with deep sadness, a heartfelt respect, and a joy of knowing him as a friend and athlete,” according to openwaterswimming.com.

In his honor, the first Fran Crippen Open Water Swimmer of the Year award will be given to the nominees in the running – Katie Grimes or Mariah Denigan this year. Voting for the award ended on the 15th of October. Grimes was the youngest American athlete to participate in the Tokyo Olympics. Also, the 17-year-old was the first to book her spot on the Olympic team for Paris. She recently won the 400-meter medley gold in Athens during the second leg of the Swimming World Cup 2023. However, Denigan, 20, is yet to make certain of her seat on the plane to the City of Light.

Causative factors behind Fran Crippen’s passing remain shrouded in mystery

Fran Crippen was a six-time national champion. Additionally, he was second in the overall standings at the time of his passing. When news spread that Crippen did not cross the finish line, several of his competitors jumped back into the water. They were followed soon after by a dive team. They found him near the last buoy on the 2-kilometer triangular course.

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It is not known what exactly caused Fran Crippen’s death. Many of the competitors agreed the conditions were not conducive to swimming. According to Swimming World magazine via ESPN, the water temperature was in the mid- to high-80s. Several swimmers needed to be treated for heat exhaustion afterward. Three others also needed to be rushed to the hospital.

Sadly, for open water races, there is only a minimum temperature requirement, not a maximum. Initial speculation surrounded the possibility of a cardiac abnormality. The conclusion drawn was that several factors paved the way to ensure his untimely demise. Fran Crippen was only 26 when he passed. His name and legacy will live on, primarily due to the foundation started by his parents. The eponymous award will form a small part of that legacy, keeping his name gleaming on for eternity. Hopefully now we can hope for stringent regulatory requirements to be established.

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