World Open Water Swimming Association

We are heartbroken by the death of Mara Flavia Araujo during the swim at IRONMAN Texas at Lake Woodlands.

Our deepest condolences are with her family, her friends, and everyone who shared the water with her.

Open water swimming is built on trust. In time, the lessons from this loss will belong to all of us to carry forward. For now, we hold her memory and sit with her family in their grief.

Full story: https://www.openwaterswimming.com/another-big-loss-in-open-water/

Governed by USA Swimming in the United States, open water is its own Olympic discipline with its own competitive demands — and this weekend in Sarasota, the march to LA28 on home water begins. 🌊

The U.S. has won one open water medal in five Olympics 🥈. With the 2028 Games at Belmont Shore in Long Beach, the window to change that is right now. 🏅

Full guide to the 2026 Open Water National Championships — start lists, athlete profiles, qualification mechanics, international context, and 2025 results — link in bio. 👆

📍 April 2–4 · · Sarasota, FL


TeamUSA MarathonSwimming

From Olympic official to race namesake 🏅

The inaugural Sid Cassidy Open Water Weekend honors the man who brought marathon swimming to the Olympics and created the 3K Knockout format now making its U.S. debut.

February 14-15, 2026
📍 Coconut Creek + Boca Raton
Saturday: 1.5K Metric Mile + 3K Knockout (freshwater)
Sunday: 5K Challenge + 1K + 500m (ocean)

This is more than a race. It's the start of a tradition.
Early registration open now → link in comments

🏊‍♂️ Boracay Platinum Waves
International Open Water Swim Race
📅 March 7–8, 2026
📍 Boracay Island, Philippines

A true point-to-point open water swim across Tabon Strait.

10K course:
📍 Balusbos Beach, Malay (Aklan mainland) → White Beach Station 1, Boracay
Includes a 1.5 km cross-channel crossing, finishing near Willy’s Rock.

5K course:
📍 Caticlan Jetty Port (mainland) → White Beach Station 1, Boracay

Ahead of race weekend, we spoke with Race Director Vince Garcia about course design, safety planning, and what makes this event distinctive for open water swimmers.

👉 Read the interview in comments

Our most-read stories and interviews of 2025 💙
Thanks for spending time with them — and with us!

David Olvera, SwimTrek, Rob Woodhouse
Ross Edgley, Cat Breed, Barbara Hernandez
Tuna Tunca, Christine Coppola, Maarten Van Der Weijden

Five big things shaped WOWSA in 2025 — all focused on building for the long game: integrity, insight, partnerships, governance, and a clearer path forward for open water swimming. 🌊

Dive into our 2025 highlights, then let us know what matters most to you as we look ahead to 2026. Your voice helps guide what comes next.

👉 Full recap + community survey in comments:

Most drownings happen in open water — but most prevention still isn’t built for open water. That gap doesn’t just cost lives. It also makes it harder to grow the sport we love.

That’s why WOWSA is launching the Drowning Prevention Fund.

Understanding drowning risk in context turns fear into capability — saving lives and strengthening a sport that teaches a lifelong, lifesaving skill.

🔗 Read the full announcement in the comments.

🌊 Greek open water swimmer Charalampos Taiganidis took on an extraordinary challenge in the waters off Cyprus, covering 132.46 km over 58 hours and 36 minutes swimming from Paphos Port toward Larnaca.

Although the finish remained out of reach, the swim was fully documented and reviewed, and is recorded by WOWSA as a Verified Attempt (DNF).

Respect to Charalampos and his support team for the ambition, endurance, and transparency it takes to take on — and document — a swim of this scale.

See the full report of this verified attempt in the comments. 🌊💪

Congratulations to Scottish swimmer Kate Gillwood on the WOWSA ratification of her 22.1 km Sarnico to Pisogne swim across Lake Iseo. A brilliant endurance swim. 🏊‍♀️✨Full report in comments.

Open water connects us — across seasons, oceans, and communities. As the year comes to a close, we celebrate the swimmers, coaches, organizers, and crews who keep the spirit of open water alive.

Wishing you calm seas and good company in the year ahead.

Happy Holidays from all of us at WOWSA!