RegattaCentral

In 2012, The Chicago River Marathon and Half Marathon began as a scrimmage between local Chicago crews. 2016 saw the first official Marathon as it was partnered with The Paris Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International (CSCI) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Paris and Chicago as sister cities, and to expand the reach of The Rowing Exchange started by Susan Hackett, and chaired by Stephanie Leese Emrich of The Paris Committee of CSCI. The inaugural event of the Exchange was in the Fall of 2011, when The University of Chicago Crew sent student rowers to participate in La Traversée de Paris (The Crossing of Paris). This is an annual event on the Seine River and attracts rowers from over 25 different countries. In June of 2012, Parisians visited Chicago and were taken on a tour row. In 2016, over 20 Parisians came to Chicago to race in the Chicago River Marathon.