CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The inaugural Chicago River Swim will not be in the Chicago River, but it's still happening.
Organizers say the swim will take place Sept. 22 in Lake Michigan.
Doug McConnell, founder and CEO of Chicago River Swim, said the 500 swimmers chosen to compete in the event will still have a serious test on either the 1-mile or 2-mile course.
“We really looked them up,” he said. “If they said that they did the Iron Man in Idaho, we looked up the results and double-checked that they really had been there and so forth. Of the 500 that we chose, we felt like they are really strong.”
The move to a different venue followed a decision by the city of Chicago, which said there are still lingering concerns about the health of the Chicago River.
“Since the late ’70s, it has cleaned up,” he said. “Just an unbelievable turnaround. Yet so many of us are still saddled with the old perception that it’s … a toxic and industrial waterway. It really has changed, but what hasn’t changed are the perceptions.”
They hope the swim will actually take place in the Chicago River in 2025.
The Chicago River Swim will raise money for ALS and give swim lessons to Chicago children.
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