As a symbol of cross-strait peace, the swimmers participated under the mutual goal that is translated to ‘Unifying China with One Country, Two Systems.’
The occasionally tumultuous six-decade history between China and Taiwan came to light in the planning of the event where 48 swimmers from Taiwan and 49 swimmers from China swam 7.1K across a portion of the Taiwan Strait.
Event organizer Lee Chu-feng said of the first Xiamen-Kinmen Swim, “The fact that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are able to hold such an event after six decades of hostility signifies that Taiwan and the mainland are striding towards peace.
“This is an event to increase friendly exchanges and peaceful cooperation between the two sides.” The harmony was epitomized when the swimmers finished at Shuangkou in Taiwan which was formerly a military zone between China and Taiwan. In 1958, the Chinese military dropped more than 470,000 shells on Kinmen in 44 days, killing 618 servicemen and civilians.
In a concrete outcome of the event planning, the Kinmen County Government removed the spear-like anti-landing barricades and cleared the landmines that had been left over from the militaristic past at Shuangkou Beach before the event started.
Any swim that included military barricade removal and landmine clearing as part of its safety planning is surely a remarkable event. The swim was co-organized by the Chinese Swimming Association, Xiamen Municipal Government and the Chinese Taipei Swimming Association and the Kinmen County Government
22-year-old Chinese swimmer Li Yenhan was the first to complete the 7.1K mass participation swim in 1:10. “It was not difficult. There were some rough currents somewhere near Binlan islet, but after that, it was smooth.” Swimmers between the ages of 15 and 61 completed the swim.
The future looks bright as open water swimming continues to break down barriers, improve the goodwill between neighbors and showcase camaraderie among like-minded people. We look forward to the 2010 race.
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.