Diving into a Revived Legacy
Under the first blush of dawn on September 21, 2025, over 300 swimmers plunged into the murky embrace of the Chicago River, their strokes slicing through waters once deemed toxic tombs. For the first time in 98 years, the Chicago River Swim—a grueling 2-mile and 1-mile race between the Dearborn and Clark Street bridges—marked a triumphant return, raising $100,000 for ALS research while celebrating a waterway’s improbable resurrection. Amid cheers from onlookers and the hum of the city awakening, participants like 57-year-old Tim Rooney emerged not just victorious, but transformed: “This was a great chance to see the city in a completely different way.” In a metropolis forged by steel and struggle, this event wasn’t mere sport—it’s a poignant testament to resilience, where families touched by illness and environmentalists’ quiet victories converge in a current of hope.
The Human Toll: Personal Battles Amid Collective Joy
For Tim Rooney, paddling through the river’s twists wasn’t about speed—it was survival’s echo. Diagnosed with ALS in his family for generations, including his late father and uncle, Rooney swam to honor their fight and fund cures, his strokes a defiant rhythm against a disease that claims 30,000 American lives yearly. “He’s an inspiration to everyone,” his son Pete beamed post-race, as medals dangled like lifelines. Nearby, Lovie Twine, 54 from Austin, who learned to swim at 42 after lifelong fear gripped her, surfaced gasping but grinning: “I was scared, but I’m there now.” Her journey mirrored the river’s own—from a dumping ground to a viable venue—evoking the quiet terror of those early lessons in public pools, now redeemed in open water.
Becca Mann, the no-wetsuit women’s 2-mile winner from Homer Glen, felt the pulse of progress: “Honestly, I love swimming in rivers… surrounded by the city, it was incredible.” Yet beneath the elation lurked shadows—last year’s permit denial forced a Lake Michigan detour over safety fears, a reminder of lingering bacteria risks like nausea or worse. For ALS families watching shoreside, the $100,000 haul offered solace; for everyday Chicagoans, it was a shared catharsis, turning urban arteries into veins of community healing.
Facts and Figures: Strokes of Revival and Records Set
The Chicago River Swim unfolded flawlessly, with safety paramount: Three weeks of daily fecal coliform tests met EPA standards, greenlighting the plunge after a 2024 relocation fiasco. Over 300 entrants tackled the courses—2-mile elites battling currents under historic bridges, 1-mile adventurers tracing the Loop’s iconic bends—finishing to medal ceremonies and sprinkler rinses.
Standout stats and results:
| Category | Winner/Details | Time/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2-Mile Overall (No Wetsuit Women) | Becca Mann (Homer Glen) | Fastest overall: 32:45 |
| 2-Mile Men | Isaac Eilmes (Colorado Springs) | 2nd: 33:12 |
| 2-Mile 3rd | Luke Maurer (Chicago) | Local hero finish |
| 1-Mile Overall | Levy Nathan (Chicago) | Top time: 18:22 |
| 1-Mile Women (No Wetsuit) | Olivia Smoliga (Tempe, AZ) | Olympic pedigree |
| 1-Mile Men | Ryan Goble (Oswego) | Youthful surge |
| Total Participants | 300+ | Diverse ages: 14-78 |
| Funds Raised | $100,000 | For ALS research |
| River Stats | 70 fish species (vs. <10 in 1970s) | 156-mile system restored |
Post-race, swimmers savored skyline views, their efforts underscoring a Clean Water Act legacy since the 1970s.
Broader Environmental Context: From Industrial Sewer to Swimmable Sanctuary
Once a fiery inferno of slaughterhouse waste—igniting in 1880s flames that rivaled the Great Chicago Fire—the Chicago River symbolized urban excess. By the 1970s, fewer than 10 fish species survived its chemical cocktail; today, nearly 70 thrive, from bass to beavers gnawing restored banks. The EPA’s 2011 “swimmable” nod, bolstered by Friends of the Chicago River’s Thiess Prize for the 156-mile Chicago-Calumet revival, marks decades of activism. “It’s hard to build empathy for the environment… The brilliance of this is to do it with sports,” said Shedd Aquarium CEO Bridget Coughlin.
Yet challenges persist: Urban runoff spikes bacteria post-rain, and climate-fueled floods test gains. Nationally, it echoes Hudson River cleanups; globally, parallels Thames revivals in London. For Chicago, the swim spotlights economic boons—riverfront trails draw 10M visitors yearly—while tying to ALS fights, as Rooney’s family navigates a disease with no cure, their story rippling like waves through fundraised hopes.
What Lies Ahead: Annual Waves of Wellness and Advocacy
Organizers eye annual swims, with 2026 eyeing expanded fields and youth divisions to sustain momentum. Funds fuel ALS trials—$100K could bankroll gene therapies for families like Rooney’s. Community ripples: School programs on river ecology, corporate sponsorships for cleanups. Margaret Frisbie of Friends of the Chicago River beamed: “It’s a fine day for the city of Chicago.”
Resilience demands vigilance: Enhanced monitoring, policy pushes for stricter runoff rules. Globally, events like Sydney’s harbor swims inspire; locally, it could spawn triathlons, weaving health and habitat. For Twine and Mann, it’s personal evolution—fear to flow—urging Chicago toward a future where rivers aren’t relics, but rebirths.
Conclusion: Splashing Forward in the Chicago River Swim
The 2025 Chicago River Swim wasn’t a race—it was redemption, a century’s arc from flames to finish lines, where 300 souls stroked through history for ALS warriors and a waterway’s whisper of thanks. As Becca Mann savored the currents and Tim Rooney claimed his medal, their triumphs remind us: Progress paddles against the tide, but with empathy and effort, it prevails. In this revived river, Chicago finds not just a swim, but a deeper current of hope—may it carry us all forward.
