LONDON (AP) — The rough-and-tumble world of open water is coming to the serenity of Hyde Park. The women's 10-kilometer race will be held in the sprawling park located in the center of London, an unlikely setting for a sport that has dealt with its share of peril and tragedy. Many of the swimmers will be thinking of American star Fran Crippen, who suffered a heat-related seizure and drowned during a 2010 event in the Middle East. But they won't have to worry about some of the hazards they face at other venues - like sharks in Hawaii or jellyfish in Australia. The Olympic competition is being held at The Serpentine, a 28-acre recreational lake populated by plenty of ducks and fish the locals jokingly refer to as "British piranhas."
Rough-and-tumble open water comes to Hyde Park
— Aug. 8 2:51 PM EDT
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FILE - The July 21, 2009 file photo shows Germany's Thomas Lurz celebrates after winning the men's 5-kilometer open water event, at the FINA Swimming World Championships, in the open sea off Rome's ancient port of Ostia. Lurz has a tattoo on the inside of his upper left arm _ 03-05-1946 Asked the significance of the date _ May 3, 1946 _ Lurz said that was his late father's birthday. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
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