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Read the press release here.

Group Behind Hudson River Swim Says This Summer's Event May Be the Last

By Mathew Katz | May 20, 2014 2:05pm
 The Hudson River
The Hudson River
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DNAinfo/Tuan Nguyen

NEW YORK CITY — Some of the city's most popular open-water swimming events may end after this summer.

NYC Swim sent an email to swimmers on Monday saying that this will likely be the last year for its shorter events — including the annual 2-mile swim around Governors Island and the 1.6-mile swim down the Hudson River — because they have become more complicated to organize.

"This is likely your last call for the Great Hudson River Swim, Governors Island Swim, Statue of Liberty Swim, Brooklyn Bridge Swim and Stars & Stripes: Aquathlon and Swim under the auspices of NYC Swim (although we hope to work with another organization to keep them going)," the organization wrote in the email to supporters.

"We love all of these events — not to mention the community that has grown up around them — and will say good-bye to the magical waters they cover with a tear and a smile."

NYC Swim has organized swimming events in New York's waterways since 1993, offering a combination of competitive events and less-intensive swims throughout the city.

"The complexity and expense of organizing races have increased exponentially," NYC Swim added in the email, "and our boats, facilities, and volunteers took a serious beating during [Hurricane] Sandy, the effects of which continue to linger."

September's Little Red Lighthouse Swim, a 10.2-kilometer jaunt up the Hudson River, will continue for the time being, as will the group's marathon swims, according to the email.

An NYC Swim organizer reached by phone Tuesday said the decision wasn't final, but declined to comment further.