USA Swimming Plans to Push for Review of Open Water Safety Procedures in Light of Fran Crippen’s Death

PHOENIX, Arizona, October 24. USA Swimming plans to push for a significant review of all open water "precautions, protocols and safety procedures," after Fran Crippen's untimely death at the FINA Open Water 10K World Cup on Saturday in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, according to communications obtained by Swimming World.

USA Swimming Executive Director Chuck Wielgus has been keeping many within his organization updated throughout the weekend regarding the developments of Crippen's death as well as arrangements being made following the tragedy. Wielgus has already stated several times that USA Swimming plans on taking a leadership role in pushing for stronger water safety with the sport of open water, and most particularly those swims sanctioned by FINA, in hopes to guarantee that such a death will never happen again.

While meet organizers have stated that Crippen died due to overexertion, many people including swimmers from the swim that claimed Crippen's life, stated that allowing a race to take place in water in the mid-to-high 80s could have led to Crippen's heart attack. Meanwhile, a lack of oversight from meet organizers led to Crippen being found dead two hours after the swim had come to a conclusion. The first person to actually notice Crippen had not finished was teammate Alex Meyer.

Another factor currently being considered that likely pushed Crippen into exerting himself to such a level that he suffered a fatal heart attack swimming was the incentive to finish the race. FINA's rules regarding the Open Water 10K World Cup required Crippen to participate AND FINISH within the time limit in a minimum of 6 events in a year, INCLUDING the final event of the season. Therefore, to even be considered for some of the annual prize money that is part of the series, Crippen knew throughout the race that he had to finish this final stop of the circuit.

Several media reports also have stated that local police in Fujairah have begun investigating what circumstances led to Crippen's death.

Crippen's body is now en route to the United States, and services have been scheduled for Saturday at St. Matthews in Conshohocken, Pa.

Swimming World will remain focused on this story as more developments occur, including information regarding donations and services as widely requested by our readers.

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