Triathlon versus Open Water Swim Starts
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. When we look at this photo above of a race start, our immediate impression is that this is a photo of a triathlon and not an open water swim.
Why?
It is just an uneducated guess, and we could be absolutely wrong, but we see the following hints why this is probably a triathlon start:
1. Everyone is in a wetsuit; there is not one bioprened athlete, not one athlete starting without a wetsuit.
2. The escort kayaker is so close to the race start off the shoreline; this would be irresponsible in an open water swim where the escort kayakers are usually off to the side or much further out from shore.
3. There are officials and volunteers dressed in clothing among the athletes at the start.
4. Everyone is starting in a concentrated mass without anyone casually off to the sides or at the back.
Just a guess.
Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association
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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