Middle Atlantic Swimming is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of one of our own, Fran Crippen. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the entire Crippen Family as well as the entire Germantown Academy Family. Fran’s accomplishments in the pool and in Open Water were a great source of pride for many within the Middle Atlantic community. Fran became one of the faces of Open Water Swimming both within the United States and internationally as this segment of our sport continued to break out. We ask that everyone keep Fran and his family in your thoughts and prayers at this time.

  Following is information for the memorial services being planned for Fran Crippen.

When: Saturday, October 30
Where: St. Matthews Roman Catholic Church  219 Fayette Street, Conshohocken, PA 19428

Viewing: 8:30 a.m.
Mass: 10:30 a.m.
Burial: Calvery Cemetery

In lieu of flowers, the Crippen family is asking that donations be made to:

The Fran Crippen Elevation Foundation
301 E. 8th Avenue  Conshohocken, PA 19428
c/o Peter and Patricia Crippen		  

To Fran’s fans, friends, and family,

We would like to express our heart felt appreciation for all the love you have shown us over the past few days. Each kind word and thought has brought us comfort and dulled the pain. Fran’s life was filled with passion, whether it was swimming for the US or cheering on his beloved Philadelphia Phillies. We take some solace knowing he passed while doing what he loved most, swimming.

It was his goal and dream to represent the United States in the Olympic Games and when you looked up the term “Olympian” it reads, “Majestic in manner; superior to mundane affairs; surpassing all others in scope and effect.” No other man or woman fits that definition as perfectly as Fran. His life was an Olympic pursuit: majestic manner, superior to mundane affairs, and surpassing all others in scope and effect. He is an Olympian in our hearts and while he no longer walks next to us, we feel him with us always.

Our love and gratitude,
Pete, Pat, Maddy, Claire and Teresa Crippen

 

 

 

 

FINA and USA Swimming have both released statements regarding the death:

FINA
With immense sadness, FINA mourns the loss of open water swimmer Fran Crippen (USA), during the last leg of the FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup, held in Fujairah (UAE), on October 23, 2010.

Crippen, 26 years old, had been in evidence at the latest two editions of the FINA World Championships. In 2009, in Rome (ITA), he had been bronze medallist in the 10km event, while in 2010, at the FINA World Open Water Championships in Roberval (CAN), he was also third, this time in the 5km.

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 US Aquatic Sports and USA Swimming family.

USA Swimming
USA Swimming, its employees, members, National Team athletes and coaches are deeply saddened today by the death of Fran Crippen. Fran was a champion swimmer but more importantly, a tremendous person, and he will be remembered for so many extraordinary qualities. We send our sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to the Crippen family, a family that is a treasured member of the USA Swimming family. We will continue to work with FINA, the meet host and others to determine how this tragedy occurred.