Portugal will host a leg of the open water ultramarathon swimming circuit organized by the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA) for the first time, with a 20km crossing between Lisbon and Cascais, the organization announced on Wednesday.
The crossing, the longest ever made in Portugal, is scheduled for September 23 and starts at Doca de Belém in Lisbon and ends at Praia dos Pescadores in Cascais.
In addition to the race, which is part of the Ultra Marathon Swim Series circuit, a 10-kilometer aquatic marathon will take place on the same day, starting at Praia da Torre, in Oeiras, and finishing at Praia dos Pescadores, in Cascais.
The two events are part of the 11th running of the LIDL Swim Challenge, an event that will feature four open water competitions with more accessible distances on the 24th.
In the statement, Jorge Paulo Pereira, from 3Iron Sports, organizer of the event, assumes that the invitation to host one of the “most challenging events in the world” is “an international recognition”, adding: ” Open water swimming in our country has a strong tradition, so we want to rehabilitate great achievements from the past and inspire new swimmers. It will be a swimming party where we expect records of international participation.”
Source: DN
