We are please to announce that the Authentic Marathon Swim in Greece is a leg in the new annual UltraMarathon Swim Series circuit

Since the 1950’s races such as the Maratona del Golfo Capri-Napoli (established in 1954), Traversée internationale du lac St-Jean (established in 1955), and the Atlantic City Around The Island Swim (established in 1953) have been part of the existing professional marathon swimming circuits.

The series promotes the world’s coldest, hardest, longest, toughest, most extreme open water swims around the world. It is a series by, for, and about ultramarathon and extreme open water swimmers.

Authentic Marathon Swim

Athletes in The Authentic Marathon Swim follow the example of Skyllias and his daughter Hydna, the very first marathon swimmers, according to the father of history Herodotus (8.8) and other historians, who helped the Greek forces in the historic naval battle of Artemision against the Persian fleet.

This year, the Authentic Marathon Swim is expected to welcome amateur and professional swimmers from around the world for the 3rd consecutive year, on July 1-3, 2022 at Pefki of Evia in the Municipality of Istiea – Edipsos.

3 Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame Swimmers

World-class names with Olympic distinctions and unique records will participate this year’s event.

Bulgarian Olympian Petar Stoychev (4 Olympics, 11 consecutive titles in major international  marathon swimming FINA series and a dual inductee in the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame) will swim for the second time.

For the first time, the German world champion and International Marathon Swimming Hall of Famer, Christof Wandratsch, who swam across in the English Channel in 7 hours 2 minutes will also take part in the event.

Ice Swimming Hall of Famer, Kate Steels, will visit Greece for the first time. She was named the World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year in the 2021 WOWSA Awards by the World Open Water Swimming Association.

Greek swimmers & New Champions

From Greece, the open water masters world champion, Vicky Kouveli, the three-time Greek champion and two-time English Channel swimmer, Sofia Psilolignou, and the English Channel swimmer Giannis Kotsiopoulos will swim in the event along with Greek champions including Stellina Aplanti, Ilectra Lebl, Dimitris Negris, Panagiotis Bolanos, and George Skotadis who compete with the colors of the Dutch national team, while Olga Ntalla also returns to the event.

Open Water Sea Kayaking for the first time in a Greek sports Event 

The certified and experienced South Evian Gulf team founded in the Southern Gulf of Evia will accompany swimmers in the 5 km, 3 km and 1.5 km races.

As part of the Authentic Marathon Swim, an exhibition of local food products and tasting will also be held in collaboration with Evia’s Federation of Trade and Entrepreneurship “Evia Epichirin”.

Music Concert by the Hellenic Navy Music Band

On Saturday July 2, activities will include the presence of a Music Convention with the participation of the Hellenic Navy Music Band, connecting the historic naval battle of Artemision with the present and honoring the naval feat. The Hellenic Navy’s Music Department will hold a music concert in honor of the Artemision naval battle and the Authentic Marathon Swim.

The event is organized by the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos and the entire Local Government with the Region of Central Greece, the Organization of Cultural Development for Central Greece (O.P.A.S.T.E.) and the Regional Union of Municipalities of Central Greece. The Authentic Marathon Swim is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism. 

The Courses 10 km and 14.5 km

The Races

Registration Authentic Marathon Swim 2023

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