American swimmer Fran Crippen, 26, Dies During Race

Washington Post Reported That Fran Crippen, an open water swimmer from the U.S., died during today’s World Cup marathon race in the United Arab Emirates. He was 26.

Crippen died during the last leg of the 10-kilometer race in Fujairah, swimming world governing body FINA said in a statement on its website, without disclosing a cause of death. He won the bronze medal in the 10-kilometer event at last year’s World Championships and took the bronze in the 5-kilometer race at the 2010 Open Water Championships. 

A native of Conshohocken, Pa., Crippen was an 11-time all-American at Virginia and was named Atlantic Coast Conference swimmer of the year in 2003 and 2004. He finished third in the 10-kilometer swim at the 2009 World Championships in Rome. Crippen was named in September the Male Open Water Swimmer of the Year by USA Swimming. He won six U.S. national titles in his career.