There are two established professional marathon swimming circuits in the world, both sanctioned by FINA and organized by local race committees. The FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup circuit are races limited to 10 kilometers held in oceans, seas, bay and lakes from Canada to China.
The FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix are longer races, ranging for 15 – 57 kilometers, held in seas, bays, lakes and rivers from Argentina to Dubai.
In 2009, a total of 264 athletes from 39 countries took part in the FINA 10KM Marathon Swimming World Cup circuit. France (67), Brazil (17), Russia (17) and the USA (15) had the most number of athletes participating on this circuit.
A total of 106 athletes from 25 countries took part in the longer FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix circuit with Argentina (20), Italy (13) and Germany (9) having the most number of athletes participating.
Photo shows Angela Maurer, gold medalist in the 25K race at the 2009 World Swimming Championships and nominee for the 2009 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year.
3 comments:
But must see, that in some Grand_Prix races they have a limit for swimmers participating because of the number of boats available.
The usual 10k course in 4 or 5 laps, which makes the feeding much more easy. In the long races there is usually a boat following each swimmer.
You have an excellent point. Do you know what swims have a limit due to boats?
I know for sure the race in Magog and I think, Ißm not sure, the race in St-Jean as well. I think I maximum numbers of swimmers there is 25 total. I don´t know if they have this kind of limit in Argentina as well.
Its also a matter of security and money. If you have. let´s say 50 boats out there, its really not safe for the swimmers to swim in a large pack, so the limitation makes sense!
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