Hundreds plunge in Chicago River for first official swim in nearly 100 years

"Hundreds of people plunged into the Chicago River's chilly waters on Sunday as part of the first organized swim in the river for nearly 100 years, a previously unthinkable act in what was once one of the most befouled waterways in the world. About 300 people, some wearing wetsuits, jumped into the Chicago River for a mile-long looping swim on an early, overcast midwest morning,"

"It's overwhelming to see this happen, it's unbelievable to see swimmers swim past us now, said Doug McConnell, the main organizer of the event. McConnell, a Chicago area native and co-founder of A Long Swim, had been pushing the city's leadership for more than a decade to allow a swim in the river, the first such event since 1927, having witnessed the blossoming urban river swimming movement take hold in cities such as Paris, Munich and Amsterdam."

About 300 people, some wearing wetsuits, completed a mile-long looping swim in the Chicago River, the first organized swim there in nearly 100 years. The swim reflected decades of water quality improvements that reduced toxic pollution and made such events possible. The event was organized by A Long Swim co-founder Doug McConnell, who had pressed city leadership for more than a decade to permit a river swim and who hopes it becomes an annual event and spreads to other U.S. cities. Participants came from across the U.S. and 13 countries and noted the river appeared cleaner than expected compared with its historically toxic reputation.

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