The Oldest Open Water Marathon Swims in the World
Get in the waves of pioneers. Experience what drove the pioneers in competitive open water swims. Have fun and fast marathon races in unpredictable and challenging conditions.
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Participation in one event: 10,000 points.
Participation in all races below 300,000 points.
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est. 1892: Selkie Henley Classic, United Kingdom
THE SELKIE HENLEY CLASSIC is a 2.1 km endurance upstream River Thames swimming event, held over the Henley Royal Regatta course, very early on the Sunday morning before the Wednesday start of Henley Regatta.
This event is a celebration of mid-summer. It provides a unique opportunity to swim one of the most famous and beautiful stretches of open water in the world, at dawn. You arrive at the event in darkness and walk the 1/4 of a mile to the start into the sunrise, the first wave led by the torch carrier.
est. 1907: Boston Light Swim, United States
The oldest open water marathon swim in the U.S. and affectionately billed as the “Granddaddy of American Open Water Swims,” the 8-mile Boston Light Swim has been a local tradition since 1907.
est. 1912: The Swim Thru Perth, Australia
The Swim Thru Perth was first held in 1912 and, except for a few breaks for the World Wars and the polio epidemic, has been held in January in the Swan River ever since making it Australia's oldest open water swim. While the event has a proud tradition of attracting the cream of Australian swimming it also proudly supports and encourages swimmers of all standards, including those with disabilities, to enter and enjoy the atmosphere on race day.
est. 1914: Galata- Varna, Bulgaria
The 4.4 km Varna-Galata Swimming Marathon (Плувен маратон Галата-Варна) has been continuing in Varna Bay in the Black Sea for many years.
Hardly had any of the three men from Varna ever suggested what their swim journe would turn into over the years when they swam for the first time the distance from Galata to Varna in 1914. The marathon continues through the years up until today. Theres is no other event that have been continuously held for many consequitive years. The photo is from 1926 Marathon Race. In 1944 the marathon did not take place due to the turbulent political situation at that time.
est. 1920: Dublin City Liffey Swim, Ireland
The Dublin City Liffey Swim (Irish: Snámh na Life, Bhaile Átha Cliath) is one of the most famous open sea races throughout the world. It was first run in 1920 when it was devised by Bernard Fagan an engineer in Dublin Corporation to show the citizens the good quality of the water in the Liffey.
est. 1924: Africa's oldest open water swimming event
The first race was run in 1924. It has been one of South Africa’s biggest and most popular races ever since! The River Mile is a fast and competitive open water race, but the event is much more than that. It is an action packed family day out at the picturesque Sundays River venue.
est. 1937: Lavinia 2-Mile Sea Swim, Sri Lanka
Mount Lavinia Hotel has been the tower of strength of the Mount Lavinia 2-Mile Sea Swim, the ‘Festival of Open Water Swimming’. Usually over 1200 participants.
