Swimmers Bank On Their Support
The FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix professional circuit traditionally kicks off its season in Argentina with a series of races in Argentina. The longest race on the circuit is the 88 km (54.6-mile) Maratón Hernandarias-Paraná race, the longest professional race in the world. Erica Rose, who finished third in 9 hours 40 minutes in 2007 and sixth in 10 hours 5 minutes in 2005, says of the Maratón Hernandarias-Paraná, “The race itself is incredible. It is challenging, for sure.
There are some points when the river is narrow and you feel like you’re moving quickly, but there are other points where you can’t see either bank of the river at all and you have no idea where you are or if your rowers are taking you in the right direction.
The people in Parana and Hernandarias are amazing. They get so excited about the marathon that they celebrate the week leading into it and line the banks of the river when you’re swimming. They’re incredibly supportive of the swimmers and treat us like celebrities.”
Copyright © 2013 by World Open Water Swimming Association
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Daily News of Open Water Swimming and founder of WOWSA. 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).
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