The UAE Swimming Federation (UAESF) insist they will be taking all necessary measures and precautions at the upcoming open water race in response to news that USA Swimming are opposing the event, over four years after the death of American swimmer Fran Crippen in Fujairah.
Open water star Crippen died at a race in the northern emirate waters in October 2010, and USA Swimming, who blame the UAESF for providing inadequate safety practices that led to his drowning, have voiced their disappointment at FINA’s decision to host a 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup in Abu Dhabi, scheduled for March 13 2015.
“USA Swimming is disappointed in the decision to host an open water race in the same country where Fran Crippen tragically died,” executive director Chuck Wielgus told Swimming World magazine in a statement. “The USA Swimming family still mourns Fran’s loss, and as such we have no plans to support or send athletes to an open water event in the UAE.”
A spokesman for the UAESF revealed that a test event will run on February 21 to make sure all safety practices are in place and that they are committing to delivering a world-class race.
“What happened to Fran Crippen was a tragedy and we understand the position USA Swimming are taking,” the UAESF spokesman told Sport360°.
“But we also have a duty to deliver races to help promote open water swimming – a discipline that is collapsing and needs more heroes and races to get back to its glory days.
“We are working with FINA to get open water swimming back on its feet and that is why we are hosting this race.
“We’ll do everything we can to have a strong race, and we will follow all the regulations mandated by FINA.
“The test event on February 21 will be held to make sure all precautions are taken and that we can deliver a world-class event.”
Two members of the UAESF serve on FINA’s Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and the spokesman says it is only natural for the emirates to host marathon swimming events to help promote the sport.
The Abu Dhabi race is the second leg of an 11-stop 10km World Cup series but it has a ‘tbc’ (to be confirmed) notation next to it on the FINA website. Marculescu emphasised that the March race will only take place if the test event in February is satisfactory safety-wise.
USA Swimming cannot prevent a swimmer from coming to the Abu Dhabi race but can withdraw their support by denying competitors, coaches and funds at the event.
