Form of competition

A water sport that requires the competitor to cover a distance in open water. The program includes 6km team, men’s and women’s 5km, 10km and 25km races.

History of open water swimming

The beginning of the modern age of open water swimming is often considered to be May 3, 1810, when Lord Byron swam several miles to cross the Hellespont (now known as the Dardanelles) from Europe to Asia.

In the first edition of the modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, the swimming competition was held in open water. The ‘real’ discipline joined the Olympic program in Beijing 2008 where the first 10km races were held under the name of marathon swimming.

FINA History

In 1991, open water swimming events were introduced to the program of the World Championships, for a couple of editions only the 25km events were contested then the shorter distances were added, 5km in 1998 and 10km in 2001. Recently the FINA Marathon Swim World Series 10km circuit offers elite racing opportunities (and fine prize money) for the best open water competitors.

Number of events: 7

Equipment: starting pontoon, feeding station, judge boats

Gear: swimwear, goggles, cap

Place of the competition: Budapest, Lupa Lake