What is Marathon Swimming?
Marathon swimming sees athletes take on a 10km course in open water environments such as the sea, rivers and lakes - meaning it is as much a test of mental strength and tactical ability, as it is physical endurance.
The open environment means that athletes must adjust to changing currents, while physical contact between competitors and water stops are a regular occurance.
After approximately two hours of racing there is an exciting sprint finish in the final three kilometres.
By whom, where and when was Marathon Swimming invented?
The concept of marathon swimming has been around since Captain Matthew Webb became the first person to swim across the English Channel in 1875. Another notable marathon swim took place in 1926, when 19-year-old Gertrude Ederlee became the first woman to make the crossing between England and France.
“Open water” swimming became an official World Aquatics (then called FINA) discipline at the 1991 World Championships 1991 in Perth, Australia, where both men and women competed on a 25km course. The 10km distance was added in 2001 in Fukuoka, Japan.
What are the rules of Marathon Swimming?
Marathon swimming events must be held in a natural body of water.
The race features a mass start, where competitors dive in from a platform simultaneously at the sound of a tone with no lane restrictions. As such, incidental contact between swimmers is permitted.
Athletes wear a wristband known as a transponder, which keeps track of their timing in the results system.
Athletes must touch a pad at the end of the race to stop the clock, and can be disqualified for pacing, slipstreaming, walking or jumping, or finishing without their transponder.
How long is a swimming marathon?
Marathon swimming at the Olympic games takes place on a 10km course.
Marathon Swimming and the Olympics
Before the adoption of swimming pools, swimming events took place in open water environments like oceans, rivers and lakes at the first three editions of the modern Olympic Games.
However, the first official Marathon swimming event for men and women took place with a 10km race at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008.
The Netherlands have been the most successful nation so far with three Olympic gold medallists in Maarten van der Weijden (2008), Sharon van Rouwendaal (2016), and Ferry Weertman (2016).
Tunisia’s Oussama Mellouli, who won men’s 1500m freestyle Olympic gold at Beijing 2008, became the first athlete in history to win swimming and marathon swimming medals at the same Olympics when he won the 10km marathon event and took bronze in the 1500m freestyle at London 2012.
Best Marathon Swimmers to watch
Having narrowly missed out on the defence of her Olympic title with silver at Tokyo 2020, 29-year-old Dutchwoman Sharon Van Rouwendaal won the 2022 World Championships and remains the ultimate competitor.
Her rivalry with Brazilian star Ana Marcela Cunha, who won the gold medal in Tokyo, and Aurelie Muller of France, who sealed silver at both Rio 2016 and the 2022 World Championships, is one to savour.
The two big names to look out for on the men’s side are Florian Wellbrook and Gregorio Paltrinieri - both multiple swimming and marathon swimming Olympic and world medallists.
Germany’s Wellbrock won the marathon swimming title and 1500m freestyle bronze at Tokyo 2020. Meanwhile, his Italian rival Paltrinieri - who won 1500m freestyle gold at Rio 2016 - took the 800m freestyle silver and marathon swimming bronze at Tokyo 2020.
Frenchman Marc-Antoine Olivier is also one to watch, having won marathon swimming bronze at Rio 2016, and silver at the 2019 World Championships.
