Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

While most FINA professional marathon swimming competitions (FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup or FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix) offer anywhere from US$10,000 to US$20,000 in prize money, the new proposed swim organized by FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup race director Ayman Saad is reporting offering US$75,000.

It will be the biggest prize money on the pro circuit. The offering is opening eyes for a variety of reasons.

That is a lot of money and incentive for athletes to compete in the race.

Saad is the race director who oversaw the 2010 FINA World Cup race where American Olympic hopeful Fran Crippen tragically died under warm-water conditions in the United Arab Emirates. The influential FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee member from Egypt is working hard with FINA to bring the FINA circuit back to the United Arab Emirates.

But with the return of a race where competitors swam around and looked for Crippen’s body after the race, important issues of hyperthermia and race safety and emotional reflections on the legacy of Crippen are creeping into the conversation among the athletes and coaches.

For background information on the issue of warm water temperatures at FINA-sanctioned events, read the following articles:

* FINA Taking It To The Edge – Part 1
* FINA Taking It To The Edge – Part 2
* FINA Taking It To The Edge – Part 3
* Why 31°C FINA? – Part 4

Photo shows the back of Trent Grimsey after the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai where water temperatures exceeded 31°C during the 25 km marathon swim.

Copyright © 2014 by World Open Water Swimming Association