Swim Challenge Cascais Launches 20 km to Join Ultramarathon Swim Series
The 11th edition of the Swim Challenge Cascais is introducing the Travessia Lisboa Cascais, a 20km open water race that promises to be a significant addition to the world of open water swimming. This year’s Swim Challenge Cascais starting on September 23, 2023 is its most international event ever with 27 nations represented.
The Travessia Lisboa Cascais starts from Belém Dock in Lisbon, culminating at Pescadores Beach in Cascais. Participants will cover approximately 9km in the river and 11km in the ocean. The tide flow speeds within the river can reach up to 2.5 m/s (9 km/h), especially in the Tejo estuary, making it a challenging swim.
The event’s organizers have crafted this year’s challenge as a nod to the past. They’re evoking the spirit of the 1906 Lisbon – Cascais competition, a time when Arthur Rumsey’s triumphant swim brought him face to face with King D. Carlos. Later, others followed with crossings from Lisbon and the River Tagus, such as Baptista Pereira, Primo Ferreira, José Freitas.
A Weekend of Challenge
Apart from the 20km race on September 23rd, there’s also a 10km marathon starting from Praia da Torre in Oeiras, concluding at Praia dos Pescadores in Cascais. The LIDL Swim Challenge continues on September 24th, offering a range of races, including the 3.8km, 1.9km, 1km, and a new 5km race. These races will be in a closed-circuit format at Praia dos Pescadores, turning the bay into a spectator’s arena.
Ultramarathon Swim Series
The 20 km Travessia Lisboa Cascais is now part of the WOWSA Ultramarathon Swim Series joining the most iconic ultra-endurance races in the world – Trans Tahoe, Traversée du Lac St. Jean and Maratona del Golfo Capri -Napoli. Next year Lisboa Cascais will be the last and decisive race on the circuit, hosting the consecration of the champions.
Jorge Paulo Pereira, the founder of Swim Grand Prix stated:
“Dear swimmers, this moment is yours. Enjoy every stroke in the sea you master, the glory of reaching the finish line, happy memories that will last forever. Let’s conquer the sea, leave the land to others.”
The Course
The Elite Swimmers
Start List
| Swimmer | Country |
|---|---|
| Vitor Medeiros | Portugal |
| Joao Martins | Portugal |
| Frederico Santos | Portugal |
| Luis Sarmento | Spain |
| Eduardo Ferreira | Portugal |
| Neville Suzman | Portugal |
| Ana Cardoso | Portugal |
| Mikel García | Spain |
| Filipe Horta | Portugal |
| João Silva | Portugal |
| José Ferreira | Brazil |
| Mayra Santos | Portugal |
| Nadia Bahtane | Morocco |
| Ana Piveti | Brazil |
| Andrea Martin | Spain |
| Tiago Durães | Portugal |
| Pedro Neves | Portugal |
| Thais Sant’ana | Brazil |
| Barbara Huerta | Chile |
| Anna Nummi | Sweden |
| Nathalie Pohl | Germany |
| Fernando Pino | Spain |
| André Santos | Portugal |
| Sabrina Peron | Italy |
| Aitor González | Spain |
| Janne Haapaniemi | Finland |
| Marie-pierre Jacquemin | France |
| Jesus Ramos | Spain |
| Ira Uusoksa | Finland |
| Miguel Arrobas | Portugal |
| Iñaki Aznar | Spain |
| Juan Rodriguez | Spain |
| Khadija Bouchtaoui | Morocco |
| Juan Reznak | Spain |
| Javier Costas | Spain |
| Yana Lohvinenko | Ukraine |
| Mauro Inacio | Portugal |
| Marco Vantaggiato | Italy |
| Jorge Faria | Portugal |
| Cristobal Fuentes | Spain |
| María Bagüés | Spain |
| Patricia Fernández | Spain |
| Catarina Winkler | Brazil |
| Jorge Rabanal | Spain |
| Alberto Diaz | Spain |
| João Mouta | Portugal |
| Pedro Garcia | Portugal |
Event Date: September 23, 2023
Location: Lisboa – Cascais, Portugal
Distance: 20 km
Organized by: 3Iron Sports
Race Director: Jorge Paulo Pereira
Race Website: swim-challenge.com
