On Saturday October 23 the swimming world lost a very talented Olympic hopeful, Fran Crippen, 26. I have had the great pleasure of meeting Fran when i began coaching with the Mission Viejo Nadadores 5 years ago.
Fran and other National Open Water swimmers were competing in the Swimming World Cup and were in the United Arab Emirates when he passed away. For the first week following his death, many reports did not have any details surround his death or were unsure how an athlete in his peak would suddenly pass away.
Athletes whom were interviewed were quoted saying that the swimming conditions were too warm and that there were not enough rescue boats. Within USA swimming and FINA (International Swimming Federation) there is a minimum temperature for athletes (which is about 74 degrees F) but not maximum temperature for competition. As a former athlete, I know what it feels like to swim in water that is a bit too warm. You have a hard time breathing and your muscles are a bit too relaxed. I could not imagine possibly swimming in water close to 90 degrees and having to swim a 10k (about 6 miles) especially in the ocean.
The swimming community and friends have really come together to honor and appreciate what Fran has done, as well as are asking for FINA and USA Swimming to find what really happened in the UAE.
Fran's body was brought back this past week and his funeral was held in his home town of Philidelphia. New reports from an autopsy done by USA Swimming showed that Fran passed away from heat exhaustion and not a heart attack, which was reported by the autopsy done by FINA in the UAE.
Fran always had a way of making you feel like what you had to say mattered, regardless of his own opinion. He had this spirit that would lighten the room and would do things that would always make anyone smile or laugh. The last time I say Fran was at Pan Pacifics, an International meet held this past summer in Irvine, CA. I hadnt seen him in almost 3 years but he came up to me and gave me the biggest hug and we were able to chat for a bit before USA swimming officials wisked him away. Just the thought of him always makes me cry and to know how many lives he has touched (especially the little swimmers from Nadadores) is very heart-wrenching. But he will live on though those whom have met him and those you looked up to him.
Fran and other National Open Water swimmers were competing in the Swimming World Cup and were in the United Arab Emirates when he passed away. For the first week following his death, many reports did not have any details surround his death or were unsure how an athlete in his peak would suddenly pass away.
Athletes whom were interviewed were quoted saying that the swimming conditions were too warm and that there were not enough rescue boats. Within USA swimming and FINA (International Swimming Federation) there is a minimum temperature for athletes (which is about 74 degrees F) but not maximum temperature for competition. As a former athlete, I know what it feels like to swim in water that is a bit too warm. You have a hard time breathing and your muscles are a bit too relaxed. I could not imagine possibly swimming in water close to 90 degrees and having to swim a 10k (about 6 miles) especially in the ocean.
The swimming community and friends have really come together to honor and appreciate what Fran has done, as well as are asking for FINA and USA Swimming to find what really happened in the UAE.
Fran's body was brought back this past week and his funeral was held in his home town of Philidelphia. New reports from an autopsy done by USA Swimming showed that Fran passed away from heat exhaustion and not a heart attack, which was reported by the autopsy done by FINA in the UAE.
Fran always had a way of making you feel like what you had to say mattered, regardless of his own opinion. He had this spirit that would lighten the room and would do things that would always make anyone smile or laugh. The last time I say Fran was at Pan Pacifics, an International meet held this past summer in Irvine, CA. I hadnt seen him in almost 3 years but he came up to me and gave me the biggest hug and we were able to chat for a bit before USA swimming officials wisked him away. Just the thought of him always makes me cry and to know how many lives he has touched (especially the little swimmers from Nadadores) is very heart-wrenching. But he will live on though those whom have met him and those you looked up to him.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/champion-us-swimmer-fran-crippen-mystery-death-11961747
Celebrating the Crippen Clan - Swimnetwork.com
Celebrating the Crippen Clan - Swimnetwork.com
Asami Uzawa
Kin 332i Section 2796
1 comment:
this is such a sad story and huge loss to the swimming community.
Post a Comment