For the first time in nearly a century, swimmers took to the open water of the Chicago River on Sunday. Participants in the Chicago River Swim made their way along a one- or two-mile route downtown.

For the first time in nearly a century, the Chicago River hosted an organized open swim. The race on Sunday drew 263 swimmers and celebrated the river’s environmental turnaround. Memories of the river ...

Open-water swimming can feel intimidating, but with the right approach, it becomes a skill you can learn and master.