- published: 23 Jun 2011
- views: 265504
Open water swimming takes place in outdoor bodies of water such as open oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, canals, and reservoirs.
The beginning of the modern age of open water swimming is sometimes taken 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. In 2000, the Olympic Games first included a triathlon with a 1500 m swim leg, and in 2008, a 10 km open water swim. 5, 10, and 25 km open water races are included in the General Fina World Championships.
The activity has grown in popularity in recent years with the publication of bestselling books on "wild swimming" by authors such as Kate Rew and Daniel Start.
The equipment allowed in a race depends on the sanctioning body and/or the race organizers. For example, races may have divisions for wetsuits and/or relays; may require escort boats / kayakers / paddleboards; and may require specifically colored swim caps. The purists tend to keep it simple, using a basic swimsuit, goggles, and swim cap. Many historical records are based on that attire. Elite marathon swimmers often refer to this as "English Channel" rules, and rules for swimming the channel include using only this basic attire. Most serious open-water swimmers practice without a wetsuit, as most elite cold water or marathon swims (such as the English Channel, Catalina, or Manhattan Island Marathon Swim) do not recognize wetsuit swims.
Open water may refer to: