Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Open water swimmers face unique forms of injuries that other endurance athletes do not.

There is everything from occasional shark wounds (Mike Spalding and Charlotte Bryne) to lengthy hospital stays due to jellyfish stings (Chloë McCardel and Kim Chambers).

But the more likely injury are related to chafing. There is skin-on-skin chafing (where improper stroke mechanics or a cross-over kick or breathing can cause chafing).

There is also fabric-on-skin chafing (where a swimsuit, goggles, swim cap, protective suit or wetsuit can cause chafing), hair-on-skin chafing (where body hair can cause chafing), beard-on-skin chafing (where facial hair can cause chafing), and transponder-on-skin chafing (where Velcro or the band of a transponder can cause chafing around the ankle or wrist).

The wrist of Brazilian swimmer Samir Barel was rubbed raw during the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix effect due to friction from the Velcro of his timing chip during a recent race in Mexico.

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