Is there a marathon swim in the Olympics?
Before the adoption of swimming pools, swimming events took place in open water environments like oceans, rivers and lakes at the first three editions of the modern Olympic Games. However, the first official Marathon swimming event for men and women took place with a 10km race at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. The 10KM marathon is the pinnacle of open water swimming and an increasingly popular distance at Great Swim, alongside its little sister, the 5KM. These are seriously challenging events, and there’s loads you need to know before you get out there.When it comes to open-water swimming for the non-elites, swimming 1km in a time of under 20 is respectable and under 15 minutes is very good.Sure, some crazy people might try to swim a full 26. Olympics rules, a marathon swim is any swim in open water (that’s a lake, river or ocean) that’s longer than 10 kilometers, or 6.