How Many Professional Marathon Swimmers Are There?
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.
Copyright © 2009 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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