Overview

• The City of Chicago granted approval for the first open-water swim in the Chicago River since a 1920s pollution ban, scheduling it for September 21, 2025.
• Up to 500 qualified swimmers will navigate a one- to two-mile course from the Dearborn Street Bridge to near the Clark Street Bridge.
• Organizers will implement a safety program with autonomous buoys, GPS surveillance and more than 100 safety personnel on water vehicles.
• U.S. Olympian Natalie Hinds will serve as the featured athlete alongside partnerships with A Long Swim and the USA Swimming Foundation.
• Applications open August 11 with no fee but require prior swim experience and a commitment to fundraise for ALS research and youth swim education programs.