Swimrun

Swimrun

First played	September 2006
Characteristics
Contact	No
Team members	two person team
Mixed gender	Both male teams, womens teams and mixed teams can compete
Type	Endurance sport
Presence
Country or region	Originated in Sweden, but races have been starting to appear in Europe and America
Olympic	No
Paralympic	No

A swimrun is a multiple-stage competition involving where participants are running and swimming over a cross-country race-course that involves many transitions between the swim- and run stages of the race.

History

Swimrun was started by Utö hotel owner Anders Malm and two brothers in his staff in 2002 with the idea of challenging each other in the Stockholm archipelago where the participants were going to finish the course of getting themselves from Sandhamn to Utö. In 2006 this idea was launched as an official competition called Ö till ö (Island to island).^[1]

Ö till ö, the original race, was previously mentioned by one article as one of the toughest 1-day endurance races in the world,^[2] and is currently one of two existing world championships in swimrun. In 2015, the worlds first Ultraswimrun, the Stockholm Archipelago Ultra Challenge (SAUC) took place, and is now considered the toughest available swimrun race in the world, stretching over some 250 km. SAUC is also the official and original world championships of Ultraswimrun racing. In Sweden, and rapidly around the world, swimrun has become a new type of competition that has gathered considerable support from its growing sport and triathlon community and several annual races have been started in the world, but foremost across Sweden. The other world championship is located in Norway held by the XTERRA organisation and was 1st launched in 2014.^[3] The international focus has been growing in the last years, and in 2016 (2016-02-25) there are more than 135 known races in the world, in 19 countries and on 4 continents.^[4] The first swimrun race done in warm water, however an individual swimrun race and not a standard dual-team race, took place in ITALY in 2014.^[5]

Swimrun characteristics

What defines a swimrun is that its always carried out outdoors and in open water where your goal is to go from a starting point to a finish point through a course with several checkpoints. It has several stages, which means you have to change discipline between running and swimming multiple times. All the equipment that a participant starts with, the participant has to carry to the finish line. Even though swimrun allows and urges participants to use flotation equipment, equipment larger than 100×60 cm is not allowed.^[6]

Because of safety measures a swimrun competition is usually carried out by teams but there are several races where you can race individually.^[4] There are three classes to compete in; either a men`s class, women`s class or a mixed gender class.

Given that swimrun is a cross-country race, there are no standardization yet in terms of how far the total run and swim should be, or how many transitions there should be in a swimrun competition, like there is in sports related to swimrun such as aquathlon, biathle or triathlon.

Distances

The race distance vary among races all around the world. There are no set race limits or race standards as to what is constituded as a swimrun race. Currently the majority of races (2016) are spread among the following classes

Category	Distance
Sprint	<20 km
Standard	20–40 km
Long	40–75 km
Ultra	>75 km
Multi-day	>1day[7]

The races

Year	Races	Nations	Finisher	Events
2016	99	17	*	Sweden Borensberg Swimrun, Sjö till Sjö, Utö (ôtillö qualifier), Anglaloppet, Stockholm swimrun, Stockholm Archipelago Ultra Swimrun, Borĺs Swimrun, 50´turen 2 Sjöer, Infinity Swimrun 3h, Horfors Swimrun, Kustjageren, Vansbro, Hřga Kusten (ötillö-qualifier), Ĺrnes Swimrun, Kalmar Swimrun, Ĺstol Aquathlon, 2XU Island Challenge, Tylösand Aquathlon, Amfibiemannen, Wet rock race, Farleden, Farleden inomskärs, LED swimrun, Nordslingan Swimrun, Sjö till Sjö, Ôloppet Swimrun, Skärgĺrdsutmaningen Swimrun, Karlstad Swimrun, Stockholm Archipelago Ultraswimrun Challenge, Karlskrona Swimrun, Marstrand Swimrun, Stora Stöten Swimrun, Idre Swimrun, Anglaloppet Swimrun, Moose2Goose Swimrun, 10 Island Race, Sigge tuna Swimrun, ÖtillÖ® Swimrun World Championship, Arlanda Swimrun, Tjolöholm Swimrun, Koster Swimrun, Lilla Astol Swimrun, Langholmen Swimrun, Sollentuna Swimrun, Snapphanen, GBG Swimrun, Hellas frostbite  Italy Amphibianman® (Aquaticrunner qualifier), Conero Swimrun (Aquaticrunner qualifier), Elba Swimrun (Aquaticrunner qualifier), Idro Swimrun (Aquaticrunner qualifier), Swimrun Venice (Aquaticrunner qualifier), Lake Varano Swimrun (Aquaticrunner qualifier), Bologna Swimrun (Aquaticrunner qualifier), 3° Aquaticrunner® ITALY XTriM Border Lagoon   Switzerland Engadin (ötillö-qualifier)  Norway Rockman, XTERRA Swimrun Norway, XTERRA Oslofjorden sprint swimrun  Germany Paddle to the Medal, Rheinsberg, Allgaeu Swimrun, 1000 Lakes Swimrun (ötillö qualifier)  England Breca Buttermere, Isle of Scilly (ötillö-qualifier), Love Swimrun Ilamberis, The Broards Swimrun, Snowdonia Lyn I Lyn  Scotland Loch Lomond Inch by Inch Swimrun, Hell´s Hop, Loch gu loch  Ireland Breca Arranmore  Denmark XTERRA Swimrun Denmark, Urban Swimrun (swimrun cup Denmark), Beach Swimrun (swimrun cup Denmark), Bornholm Swimrun, Lake Swimrun (swimrun cup Denmark), DGI Swimrun Rřdekro  Belgium Amphimann, Amphiman De Schorre  Finland Midnightsun Swimrun, Porkkala Swimrun, Solvalla Swimrun (ötillö-qualifier)  Russia Lake-to-Lake  France Saint quentin Swimrun, Emeraude Swimrun  United States Mission Bay Swimrun  Spain Costa Brava Swimrun  Canada Mushoka´s Epic Swimrun  Armenia Sevan Lake Swimrun  Ireland Breca Árainn Mhóre Swimrun, Galway Bay Swimrun * Still underway races.
2015	55	12 (counting England and Scotland as different countries, otherwise 11 nations)	6441	Sweden Ö till Ö,[8] 4th Lake Swimrun*,[9] 10 Island Swimrun,[10] Amfibiemannen ,[11] Ångaloppet ,[12] Ångaloppet Sprint, Stockholm Archipelago UltraSwimrun Challenge [7] Arlanda Aquathlon,[13] Årnäs Swimrun,[14] Borås Swimrun ,[15] Borås Swimrun Sprint, Borensberg Swimrun,[16] Farleden,[17] Farleden inomskärs,[18] Hofors Swimrun ,[19] Höga Kusten Swimrun,[20] Idre Swimrun,[21] Karlstad Swimrun,[22] Koster Swimrun,[23] Kustjagaren,[24] Långholmen Swimrun,[25] Loftahammar Endurance Day,[26] Lyckans Swimrun,[27] Marstrand Open Water,[28] Marstrand Open Water Sprint, Nordslingan,[29] Öloppet,[30] Öloppet Sprint, Sigge Tuna Swimrun,[31] Sjö till Sjö Växjö,[32] Sjö till Sjö Sala,[33] Skärgårdsutmaningen,[34] Skärgårdsutmaningen Sprint, Stockholm Swimrun,[35] Snapphanen Swimrun,[36] Solvalla Swimrun*,[37] Stora Stöten Swimrun,[38] Utö Swimrun,[39] Vansbro Swimrun,[40] WetRockRace[41]  Italy 2° Amphibianman® Swimrun[42] 2° Aquaticrunner® XTriM® Swimrun,[43] 1° Tinatura Anfibia Swimrun,[44]   Switzerland Engadin Swimrun[45]  Norway XTERRA Swimrun,[46] Rockman Swimrun[47]  Germany Paddle to the Meda  England Breca Swimrun[48] Wales Snowdonia Swimrun[49]  Scotland Loch Lomond Swimrun,[50] Loch Gu Loch Swimrun[51]  Denmark XTERRA Swimrun Denmark[52]  Belgium Amphiman,[53] Amphiman Sprint  Finland Porkkala Swimrun[54]  Russia Lake-to-Lake Russia[55]  France Émeraude Swimrun,[56] Swimrun Saint-Quentin,[57] Troll Enez Morbihan [58] * Gare ancora in fase di svolgimento
2014	21	4	3574	Sweden Ö till Ö, 10 Island Swimrun, Amfibiemannen, Ångaloppet, Ångaloppet Sprint, Arlanda Aquathlon, Borås Swimrun, Farleden, Farleden inomskärs, Karlstad Swimrun, Kustjagaren Karlskrona, Loftahammar Endurance Day, Öloppet, Öloppet Sprint, Utö Swimrun, Skärgårdsutmaningen, Skärgårdsutmaningen Sprint, Solvalla Swimrun, Stockholm Swimrun  Italy 1° Amphibianman® Swimrun[59] 1° Aquaticrunner® XTriM® Swimrun,[60]   Switzerland Engadin Swimrun  Norway XTERRA Swimrun
2013	10	1	1948	Sweden Ö till Ö, Arlanda Aquathlon, Amfibiemannen, Ångaloppet, Ångaloppet Sprint, Kustjagaren Karlskrona, Öloppet, Öloppet Sprint, Utö Swimrun, WetRockRace
2012	5	1	900	Sweden Ö till Ö, Amfibiemannen, Ångaloppet, Öloppet, WetRockRace
2011	3	1	196	Sweden Ö till Ö, Ångaloppet, WetRockRace
2010	1	1	16	Sweden Ö till Ö
2009	1	1	16	Sweden Ö till Ö
2008	1	1	6	Sweden Ö till Ö
2007	1	1	4	Sweden Ö till Ö
2006	1	1	4	Sweden Ö till Ö

References

1. "Story of Ötillö". Ötillö. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
2. Tobias Mews (February 20, 2014). "The 8 toughest races in the world". The Daily telegraph. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
3. "Xterra Swimrun World Championship".
4. "World Race Overview". World of Swimrun. World of Swimrun. 2016-02-25. Retrieved 2016-02-25.
5. Nic. "The Italian national swimrun series!". Retrieved 2016-02-25.
6. "Om Swimrun (swedish)". SWIMRUN SPRINT CUP I HELLAS. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
7. "Stockholm Archipelago Ultra Swimrun (SAUC)". Ultraswimrun. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
8. Ö till Ö Homepage
9. 4th Lake Swimrun Homepage
10. 10 Island Swimrun Homepage
11. Amfibiemannen Homepage
12. Ångaloppet Homepage
13. Arland Aquathlon Homepage
14. Årnäs Swimrun Homepage
15. Borås Swimrun Homepage
16. Borensberg Swimrun Homepage
17. Farleden Homepage
18. Farleden inomskärs Homepage
19. Hofors Swimrun Homepage
20. Höga Kusten Swimrun Homepage
21. Idre Swimrun Homepage
22. Karlstad Swimrun Homepage
23. Koster Swimrun Homepage
24. Kustjagaren Homepage
25. Långholmen Swimrun Homepage
26. Loftahammar Endurance Day Homepage
27. Lyckans Swimrun Infoblatt
28. Marstrand Open Water Homepage
29. Nordslingan Homepage
30. Öloppet Homepage
31. Sigge Tuna Swimrun Homepage
32. Sjö till Sjö Växjö Homepage
33. Sjö till Sjö SalaHomepage
34. Skärgårdsutmaningen Homepage
35. Stockholm Swimrun Homepage
36. Snapphanen Swimrun Homepage
37. Solvalla Swimrun Homepage
38. Stora Stöten Swimrun Homepage
39. Utö Swimrun Homepage
40. Vansbro Swimrun Homepage
41. WetRockRace Homepage
42. 2° Amphibianman Swimrun Homepage
43. 2° Aquaticrunner XTriM Swimrun Homepage
44. 1° Tinatura Anfibia Swimrun Homepage
45. Engadin Swimrun Homepage
46. XTERRA Swimrun Homepage
47. Rockman Swimrun Homepage
48. Breca Swimrun Homepage
49. Wales Snowdonia Swimrun Homepage
50. Loch Lomond Swimrun Homepage
51. Loch Gu Loch Swimrun Homepage
52. XTERRA Swimrun Denmark Homepage
53. Amphiman Homepage
54. Porkkala Swimrun Homepage
55. Lake-to-Lake Russia Homepage
56. Émeraude Swimrun Homepage
57. Swimrun Saint-Quentin Homepage
58. Troll Enez Morbihan Homepage
59. 1° Amphibianman Swimrun Homepage
60. 1° Aquaticrunner XTriM Swimrun Homepage