Fran Crippen passed away during a FINA World Cup race in 2011, but a year before his death, he pulled off a classic victory at the 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships held in Marine Stadium in Long Beach, California.
He showed speed. He was strategic. He had stamina.
That combination was what he was known for in the open water. But at the end of the video above, Crippen is shown running out of the water to hug his long-time coach Richard Shoulberg as others also celebrated his victory.
The race was dramatic as he defeated Chip Peterson, a world champion, 2012 Olympian Andrew Gemmell, 2012 Olympic Alex Meyer, and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Richard Weinberger.
A few months before, Crippen had just competed in another dramatic USA Swimming National Open Water Swimming Championship 10 km title in the same venue – but there was something very special done in that race.
On the shores of Marine Stadium in Long Beach, he knew his good friend and fellow competitor Meyer was feeling bad – and looking way worse. Meyer just wasn’t his same ol’ smiling self. “I had some sort of salmonella poisoning or something,” recalls Meyer. Looking pale and weak, Meyer still swam out to the start and lined up with the international stars from Australia, Canada, Ecuador, Brazil, and the USA.
“It was very clear that Alex was not his normal self. I was surprised that he was even able to put on his cap and goggles,” said race director Steven Munatones. “Alex should have been in bed trying to get better, not in the open water competing against the world’s best.”
Crippen knew that too. But he was a special person. He was able to balance his innate spirit of fierce competitiveness with his deep concern for a friend.
“As the pack started to get strung out a little before half, Fran started to pick up his head and look around,” observed Munatones who was on the referee’s boat alongside the lead pack. “It was clear that Fran was looking around for something or someone.” It turned out that he was looking for Meyer who was clearly struggling. “He slowed up, cut across the pack, and made it a specific point to swim up to his friend. It appeared there were not only words spoken, but there was an obvious bond and concern that was shared through their goggles even without words being spoken. It was like Fran was saying, “C’mon buddy. Hang in there. I am with you, just draft alongside.'”
The move was so touching and so characteristic of Crippen. At the same time, that concern was totally uncalled for and completely unselfish – and unexpected by Meyer.
A quick move, unknown to nearly everyone in the race and cheering on shore, but that quick buddy check on a fellow athlete was a unique demonstration of care that made Crippen the role model that he was. Crippen clearly put his own goals on the hold – and possibly was willing to sacrifice a victory to show an in-the-water, in-the-middle-of-a-back compassion for a friend during an race.
Munatones said, “It was not a given that Fran could get back into the race and did something that I had not seen up to them – and ever since – at least in an international, top-level competition.”
Meyer eventually pulled out of the 10 km race, but Crippen came back and just barely lost the gold to an American world champion. Crippen’s sister Teresa remembered watching her brother turn back during the race with disbelief, but she knew exactly what he was all about. “Alex was like a brother at that point.”
“He was my friend and teammate,” said Meyer. “Fran touched so many people in so many different ways.” That is quite clear in the Marine Stadium in August 2010.
2010 USA Swimming Championship Results:
- Chip Peterson (USA) 1:56:00.02
- Fran Crippen (USA) 1:56:02.74
- Richard Weinberger (Canada) 1:56:02.98
- Allan Carmo (Brazil) 1:56:04.67
- George O’Brien (Australia) 1:59:19.69
- Christ Ashwood (Australia) 1:59:24.71
- Ivan Enderica (Ecuador) 2:00:28.30
- Zack Chetrat (Canada) 2:02:45.18
- Arthur Frayler (USA) 1:58:23.06
- Sean Ryan (USA) 1:59:26.17
- Michael Klueh (USA) 1:59:26.60
- David Browne (Australia) 1:59:32.16
- Rhys Mainstone (Australia) 1:59:38.64
- DQ Andrew Gemmell (USA)
- DNF Alex Meyer (USA)
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