{"id":399258,"date":"2019-10-23T05:09:59","date_gmt":"2019-10-23T12:09:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=399258"},"modified":"2019-10-23T10:29:20","modified_gmt":"2019-10-23T17:29:20","slug":"fran-crippen-commemoration-day-marked-by-for-safetys-sake-plea-from-swimmers-parents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/fran-crippen-commemoration-day-marked-by-for-safetys-sake-plea-from-swimmers-parents\/","title":{"rendered":"Fran Crippen Commemoration Day Marked By “For Safety’s Sake” Plea From Swimmer’s Parents"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fran Crippen Commemoration Day<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Editorial-Commentary<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Today marks the saddest day on the world-class swimming calendar: it is the ninth anniversary of the death of Fran Crippen<\/strong>, the first swimmer to lose his life on the watch of FINA<\/strong> and USA Swimming<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Tragedy upon tragedy, it is also a day on which we must read these words from Fran’s mother,\u00a0Pat Crippen<\/strong>, on behalf of herself and husband Pete Crippen<\/strong>, Fran’s dad, responding to troubling events surrounding the World Beach Games 5km races in Doha, Qatar,<\/a> this month:<\/p>\n

“I ask myself how would I answer a parent who asks me if I had the opportunity, would I ever allow one of my children to swim open water? No one has ever asked me that question. My heart says ‘yes’ because Fran loved it so but my good judgement says ‘no’ because FINA continues to sanction these events that clearly push and exceed the safe limit. Makes me think there are organizers out there who just don\u2019t care.”<\/p>\n

“And FINA – it confirms my belief that there was never a sincere resolve on their part to put swimmers safety over money. When I hear about these questionable races FINA sponsors, I feel like Fran’s death was merely bad PR and only temporarily in the way of their grand plan to follow the money.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There is a very big question to USA Swimming<\/strong> leaders Tim Hinchey <\/strong>and Mike Unger<\/strong> this day, too:<\/p>\n

“And USA Swimming – where are they in all of this? Having lost one of their own swimmers why aren\u2019t they speaking out loud and clear every single time about putting swimmers at risk in races like Doha. Is their international stature such that they are not able to exert any influence on FINA to hold them responsible for putting swimmers at risk. We don\u2019t think so. It makes us wonder.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The parents of Fran, who with Fran’s world-class-swimmer sisters, Maddie, Teresa <\/strong>and Claire<\/strong> and other family members, mourn the loss of their only son, brother, potential partner, husband and father this day, paid plaudits to Ashley Twichell<\/strong> and Haley Anderson<\/strong> and others, such as the entire Canadian team, who bypassed Doha on safety grounds:<\/p>\n

“… the swimmers who decline to compete and speak out like Ashley and Haley … tremendous respect for their fortitude”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Read more from Pat and Pete Crippen below. Some context:<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Fran

Fran Crippen – Photo Courtesy: Fran Crippen Elevation Foundation<\/p><\/div>\n

There is much yet to say and much yet to be revealed on the matter of promises made and rules changed but then not observed. That full story is not this day. This day we honour Fran and mark his passing with a warning on safety and a plea from his parents to all guardians of swimmers and their safety, FINA and USA Swimming in sharp focus and the scrutiny they not only deserve but have drawn to themselves by failing to do what they must: ” … everything in our power” to honour Fran’s memory by ensuring there would never again be loss of life down to the same shameful circumstances.<\/p>\n

Excuses and abdications of responsibility and duty are a part of the mix of all things that have come to pass since the months, weeks and days of lead-up to Fran’s death on that fateful October 23, 2010, off the coast of Fujiarah, United Arab Emirates, in waters and air temperatures and under race conditions, on ground, in water and in the rule book, that ought to have added up to “Race Cancelled” before a toe was dipped.<\/p>\n

And dipped in waters that had not been scheduled to have even hosted the race at all as the competitors arrived for the last FINA World Cup showcase event of the 2010 season in the UAE knowing that if they did not complete the course for any reasons, then under FINA series rules, accepted and therefore agreed by USA Swimming as one of the leading lights in FINA governance, they would forfeit their season earnings.<\/p>\n

Both FINA and USA Swimming bear a responsibility that no amount of apologies, nor dollars can ever compensate for.<\/p>\n

Their and THE only way to honour Fran Crippen is for such guardians to do everything in their power to ensure safety, even if that means cancelling events and steering clear of waters that are likely to present a serious problem when it comes to water temperatures. In the mix are debates brushed aside by the likes of the FINA leadership about event bidding processes and appropriateness of venues for world-class swimming.<\/p>\n

With all the above in mind, we turn to disturbing events that unfolded this month and to the response of Pat and Pete Crippen, the parents of Fran who oversee the Fran Crippen Elevation Foundation<\/strong><\/a> and all the fine work it does in memory of a champion lost when and where his passing should and could have been avoided, it is easy to conclude from the findings and details of two independent reports into his death.<\/p>\n