Press
— THE CHICAGO RIVER SWIM IS THE TALK OF THE TOWN
The Chicago River Swim has major implications to our city and across the globe. The 2024 event generated a potential media reach of 600 million indivudals between the April launch and the inaugural September event. Key media coverage is listed below.
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Media Coverage
2025 MEDIA COVERAGE
- Chicago Tribune | August 7: City OKs first Chicago open-water swim in a century after a snag last year
- Fox 32 Chicago | August 7: Chicago River Swim to return for first open-water swim in the Chicago River
- Chicago Star Media | August 7: Chicago River Swim gets green light for historic comeback
- Block Club Chicago | August 7: Chicago River Swim Returns for the First Time in Nearly a Century
- AXIOS | August 7: Chicago River Swim approved for 2025
- Crains Chicago Business | August 7: Chicago River Swim is back on, and actually in the Chicago River this time
- Chicago Sun Times | August 7: Chicago River Swim returns to the city after almost a century
- WTTW-TV | August 7: Chicago River Swim Announced for September, and This Time Organizers Have the City’s Approval
- Ohio Latino News | August 7: Chicago River Swim Aprobado Para un Regreso Historico este Septiembre
- WGN-TV | August 7: Chicago River Swim offiically returning in September
- NBC5 Chicago | August 7: First open water swim in Chicago in 98 years set for fall 2025
- Chicago Chinese Times | August 8: Event of the Century! The Chicago River is now open for swimming for the first time in a century.
- KHMO AM 1070 | August 8: Chicago's First River Swim in 100 Years is Happening
- WGN Radio 720 | August 8: Chicago River opens to Swimmers this September
- WGN TV | August 8: Details on the Chicago River Swim
- Time Out Magazine | August 8: You can officially swim in the Chicago River for the first time in 100 years
How American cities are rethinking their urban rivers (Oct 21, 2024)
'Chicago River Swim' takes place in Lake Michigan instead of the river (Sep 22, 2024)
Despite location change and downpours, open-water swim on Lake Michigan draws hundreds to the lakefront (Sep 23, 2024)
These Residents Want a Swimmable Chicago River (Sep 20, 2024)
2024 MEDIA COVERAGE
- WBBM | April 2: History will be made on the Chicago River this fall...
- WGN TV | April 2: Chicago River Swim to be held in September after more than 100 years
- Block Club Chicago | April 3: Swim In The Chicago River? Open Swim Planned For First Time In A Century
- ABC7 Chicago | April 3: Chicago River open water swim returns in September after nearly a century
- Chicago Sun Times | April 3: Open-water swim in Chicago River to be held in September, the first in more than 100 years
- WGN-AM | April 3: Chicago River Swim allows for swimming in the Chicago River for the first time in over 100 years
- Crains Chicago Business | April 3: Want to swim the Chicago River? Open-water event gets the green light
- Block Club Chicago | April 3: Swim in the Chicago River? Open Swim planned for first time in a century
- Time Out Chicago | April 3: You’ll be able to swim in the Chicago River this September
- NBC5 Chicago | April 3: Open-water swim in Chicago River to be held for first time in more than 100 years
- Chicago Star Media | April 3: Grab your swim caps! Chicago could hold first open river swim in 100 years
- Hoodline | April 3: Chicago River Swim event set to celebrate waterway's renaissance, aims for ALS research funding
- CBS2 Chicago | April 3: Chicago River to host swim race for first time in nearly a century
- WGN Radio | April 3: Chicago River Swim allows for swimming in the Chicago river for the first time in over 100 years
- Telemundo Chicago | April 3: La natación en aguas abiertas en el río Chicago se llevará a cabo por primera vez en más de 100 años
- Barstool Sports, April 3: Follow The Leader: White Sox Dave, Donnie, And I Swam (Surfed) The Chicago River, So Now The Entire City Is Going To Do It (And Probably Contract Hepatitis)
- Reddit, April 3: I love the Chicago River - worked alongside it for 20 years - but when I read this, I gagged a little
- Streeterville News | April 3: Grab your swim caps! Chicago could host first open river swim in 100 years
- WLS-FM | April 3: Swimming in the Chicago River returns after nearly 100 years
- Chicago Tribune | April 4: Historic open water swim to be held in Chicago River in September
- Q101 | April 4: The Chicago River ‘Open Swim’ returns for the first time in a century
- AXIOS | April 4: Tips and Hot Links: River Swim Returns
- WGN Radio | April 4: Would you like to swim in the Chicago River?
- AXIOS | April 5: Photos: Past Chicago River Swims
- 101.9 The Mix | April 5: Doug McConnell of the Chicago River Swim
- WVAZ-FM | April 6: Community Connect: Swim the Chicago River for ALS
- WBEZ | April 8: WBEZ's Weekly News Recap
- Chicago Sun-Times | April 8: Chicago's waterways will be cleaner under a little-noticed new permit system
- Travel and Tour World | April 9: Chicago River Swim featuring 500 expert swimmers in the Chicago River
- ABC7 Chicago | April 10: How to register for the inaugural Chicago River Swim competition
- Hispanic Business TV | April 21: Chicago River Swim returning after nearly a century
- WTTW-TV | April 22: Would you swim in the Chicago River? Navigating safety concerns ahead of open water swim event
- Chicago Tribune | April 24: Water quality has improved dramitcally in the Chicago River, but how safe is swimming?
- Head Topics | May 26: In the early 20th century, the Chicago River Swim was an annual event that drew thousands of spectators
- The Times of Northwest Indiana | June 25: A century after Tarzan swam the Chicago River, a region doctor dives in to help rescue others
- NBC5 Chicago | July 14: City denies permit request for Chicago River Swim benefitting ALS research
- Block Club Chicago | July 14: Chicago River Swim event denied permit by city over "safety concerns"
- Hoodline | July 15: Chicago City denies permit for historic river swim, citing safety concerns
- Chicago Sun-Times | July 27: Organizers of Chicago River open swim event appeal city's permit denial
- WTTW - Chicago Tonight | Aug 19: Chicago River Swim will move to Lake Michigan as organizers aim to build momentum for 2025 river event
- Chicago Tribune | Aug 19: The Chicago River Swim is still on — but it’s been moved to Lake Michigan
- ABC7 Chicago | Aug 19: Chicago River Swim is officially happening, but athletes won't actually swim in the river
- Yahoo! News | Aug 19: Chicago River Swim shifts to Lake Michigan after permit denial
- Chicago Sun-Times | Aug 19: Inaugural Chicago River Swim for ALS research moved to Lake Michigan after city denies permit
- Time Out Magazine | Aug 20: The infamous Chicago River Swim event is now happening in Lake Michigan
- Crains Business Chicago | Aug 20: The Chicago River Swim is a go - just not in the Chicago River
- ABC7 Chicago | Sep 22: Chicago River Swim: Open Water swimmers take on relocated race in Lake Michigan
- Internewscast Journal | Sep 22: Swimmers brave open water challenge at new location on Chicago River in Lake Michigan
- Chicago Tribune | Sep 22: Photos: Chicago River Swim returns after 116 years
- Streeterville News | Sep 22: Chicago River Swim makes waves with $200K fundraiser for ALS
- 24ORE Italia | Sep 23 | USA, centinaia di nuotatori alla 'Chicago River Swim'
- Beverly Review | Oct 1: Rooney dives into event for ALS effort
Media Releases
Aug 7, 2025
Chicago River Swim Approved for Historic Return this September
Sep 22, 2024
Inaugural Chicago River Swim Makes a Splash at Ohio Street Beach
Aug 19, 2024
Chicago River Swim Relocates to Lake Michigan at the City of Chicago's Request
April 2, 2024
Chicago River Swim to Make History as First Open Water Event in Nearly 100 Years
