A swimmer from the age of 6 on, Fran Crippen made his transition from the pool to the Ocean in 2006. Since then, Fran has become the authoritative figure on Open Water Swimming in the United States. At the 2009 World Championships in Rome, Fran took home the bronze medal in the 10k event. Prior to this, Fran captured medals in open water swimming at the Pan Pacific Championships and the Pan American Games. He has also been national champion in both the 5k and 10k events twice each.
In the pool, Fran was an outstanding distance swimmer, and has two national titles in the 800 meter freestyle to his name. Fran was also an 11-time All-American and two time Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) swimmer of the year while competing at the University of Virginia.
Swimming is a family affair in the Crippen family. Fran’s oldest sister, Maddy, was a 2000 Olympian in the 400 individual medley. Fran also has two younger sisters who have been successful in the pool. Claire Crippen has been a National Finalist and NCAA All-American at the University of Virginia, and youngest sister Teresa competes for the University of Florida and was a Pan American Games Champion.
In London in 2012, Fran will aim to be the first US medalist ever in open water swimming at an Olympic Games. Until then, he is living and training in Pennsylvania with the Germantown Academy Aquatic Club under coach Dick Shoulberg. Fran is a big sports fan and enjoys watching SportsCenter in his down time.
STATS
- Birthday: April 17, 1984
- Hometown: Conshohocken, Pa.
- Residence: Philadelphia, PA
- Sport: Open Water Swimming
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- 10k Open Water Swimming World Championships Bronze Medalist
- Six time US National Champion
- Pan Pacific Championships silver medalist
- an American Games gold medalist and two time silver medalist
- 11-Time NCAA All American
