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2h ago

First Official Chicago River Swim in Nearly a Century Draws Hundreds

Decades of cleanup made the sanctioned race possible, with organizers reporting six-figure donations for ALS research plus youth lessons.

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The first wave of 2-mile swimmers jump into the water before the Chicago River Swim on Sept. 21, 2025. Over 300 swimmers gathered for the first organized swim in the Chicago River in 98 years. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)
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Overview

  • Several hundred vetted swimmers completed one- and two-mile courses on the downtown main branch, marking the first organized open swim since the 1920s.
  • Organizers said weeks of pre-race testing found the water consistently met EPA standards for fecal coliform, and safety measures included buoys, floating robotic markers and on-water crews.
  • The river segment was closed to boat traffic for roughly two hours and reopened around 10 a.m., with no major health incidents reported.
  • Donations surpassed $100,000 for ALS research at Northwestern’s Feinberg School, with another $50,000 earmarked for swim lessons through the Salvation Army Kroc Center.
  • Published results listed Levy Nathan as the men’s non-wetsuit 1-mile winner, Olympic gold medalist Olivia Smoliga as the women’s 1-mile winner, and Becca Mann as the women’s 2-mile winner.