Alex Meyer Withdraws From 10K Event at Pan American Games; Will Commemorate Fran Crippen’s Passing with Crippen Family

PHOENIX, Arizona, October 6. OPEN water swimming star Alex Meyer will not compete in the 10K swim at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, citing injury and a desire to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Fran Crippen's death with the Crippen family.

Meyer told Swimming World today in an e-mail that "Injury (is) preventing me from getting back in shape quickly enough to have a good performance at Pan Ams, plus I'm going to visit the Crippen family that weekend, which marks one year without Fran."

The Pan American Games' 10K event will be held Oct. 22, one day before the one-year anniversary of Crippen's death during an open water race in the United Arab Emirates. Crippen and Meyer were close friends, and Meyer was the first swimmer to notice that Crippen had not finished the race last Oct. 23, and had helped crews locate his body.

Meyer did not specify the type of injury he sustained, but will be looking to be at full strength in time for the 10k race at the London Olympics, which he qualified for at the FINA world championships.

With Meyer out of the race at Pan Ams, Arthur Frayler will be the lone American male swimmer in the race. Frayler will also compete in the 1500-meter freestyle at the meet.

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