Muddied But Safe In the Orinoco River Swim
In San Felix, Venezuela, 805 swimmers started to cross the Orinoco River where it means the Caroni River in the 3.1K (1.9-mile), but only 520 reached the finish after fighting currents in one of the world’s largest rivers. In a credit to the diligence of the safety patrols and organizers, they 290 swimmers were pushed too far downstream and had to be picked up by boats.The chocolate-colored waters of the Orinoco River, muddied by recent rains, crossed the darker coffee-colored waters of the Caroni as the fast turbulence caused problems for many.
“Just getting across is a challenge,” said Rene Alvarez, a 41-year-old marine biologist who crossed for the fifth time. “I like it because it’s an event that’s never the same. This year the Orinoco was very, very strong and the Caroni was very gentle. Since it depends a lot on the current, there’s a lot of strategy involved.”
With 805 swimmers in the water and 290 individuals in need to assistance, this kind of professionalism in the open water by the race organization is a model for others.
To see a Associated Press slideshow of the event, go here.
Copyright © 2010 by Steven Munatones
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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