LONDON, (Reuters) – U.S. open water swimmer Francis ‘Fran’ Crippen, a world championship bronze medallist, died during a Marathon Swimming World Cup 10km event in the United Arab Emirates yesterday, world governing body FINA said.
Crippen, 26, won a 10km bronze medal at the 2009 world championships in Rome and a 5km bronze at the world open water championships in Roberval, Canada, in July this year.
“With immense sadness, FINA mourns the loss of open water swimmer Fran Crippen during the last leg of the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup, held in Fujairah, on October 23, 2010,” FINA said in a statement from its Lausanne headquarters.
“While the causes of this death remain under investigation, FINA and the entire aquatic community address, in this moment of grief, their deepest and sincere condolences to his family, friends and to U.S. Aquatic Sports and the USA Swimming family.”
