Gotta Go To Rio To Do The Travessia dos Fortes
One of the world’s top open water swims is Brazil’s annual 3.3K Travessia dos Fortes in Rio de Janeiro.Ricardo Ratto of the Brazilian Swimming Federation reports that 2,517 swimmers lined up to do a single start in 2009.
“It is always amazing to see the swimmers line up on Copacabana Beach every April. The water is warm – 24°C (75°F). The race started over 10 years ago. In the beginning, 4,000 swimmers were accepted, but due to safety reasons and as the Brazilian broadcast GLOBO televises the event live to more than 10 million viewers, we decided upon a single-heat start because the spectacle is amazing. So we decided to limit the number of entries to 2,500 swimmers.”
It is quite an organization with the Brazilian Swimming Federation joining forces with the Brazilian Army, Navy and Coast Guard, Globo TV, the Rio de Janeiro military lifeguards under the direction of event management Brasil 1.
“Safety is the foremost on our minds,” said Ricardo. “We do everything we can to make the swim as enjoyable and safe as possible.”No kidding…and no exaggeration…
“We have 40 fishing boats, 20 inflatable rubber boats, 6 media boats, 2 Brazilian Navy ships, 4 Jet Skis, 4 medical boats, 6 Brazilian Coast Guard boats, 6 Rio de Janeiro life guard boats, 20 Brazilian Army boats, 20 kayaks, 2 helicopters for filming, 2 helicopters for safety, 60 life guards on paddle boards, 20 additional life guards in boats, 20 life guards at the finish, 10 divers, 2000 Brazilian Army soldiers lining the shoreline and 200 Brazilian Army officials.”
Obviously, safety is truly paramount on their minds.
Copyright © 2010 by Open Water Source
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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