Future of Open Water Swimming at the Olympics

The 2008 Beijing Olympics were a grand success and included the first Olympic 10K Marathon Swim. It is rumored that the 2012 London Olympics will hold its Olympic 10K Marathon Swim in The Serpentine, a lake in Hyde Park in the center of London London.

There are currently four cities on the short list to host the 2016 Olympics: Madrid, Rio de Janiero, Tokyo and Chicago. The decision will be made in less than one year.

If Madrid wins the 2016 Olympic bid, the Madrid Olympics open water race will be held in a rowing basin.

If Rio de Janiero wins the 2016 Olympic bid, the Rio de Janiero Olympics open water race will be in Copacabana Beach in the Atlantic Ocean.

If Chicago wins the 2016 Olympic bid, the Chicago Olympics open water race will be in Lake Michigan. With the long history of successfully holding the popular Big Shoulders 5K, the Chicago bid is well-prepared on the open water swimming front.

If Tokyo wins the 2016 Olympic bid, it is unclear where the Tokyo Olympics open water race will be held, but it is probable that the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim will be held in the rowing basin or right outside Tokyo Bay near the Olympic facilities.

At the annual U.S. Aquatic Sports convention, USA Swimming President Jim Wood encouraged interested Olympic fans to keep up on the Olympic bids by reading Around the Rings website.