Record Number of Participants to Compete in This Year’s Balaton Swim
11 hours ago
2,529
Breaking all records, nearly 13,000 people have registered for this year’s Balaton Swim. Four weeks before the start, all distances of the 43rd LIDL Balaton Swim have reached their capacity limits.
The classic 5.2 km distance between Révfülöp (northern shore) and Balatonboglár and the SUP crossing were already full, and now the last places for the 2.6 km half-distance have also been filled, according to Saturday’s announcement by the organizer Budapest Sportiroda (BSI). This sets a new record, and if the weather is favorable, an unprecedented number of participants will take part in Europe’s largest open water swimming event on July 26.
“This record number is further proof of what we have long felt: the Balaton Swim has become a true Hungarian tradition. It is an event where generations swim together, where the pride of achievement is passed down from father to son, from mother to daughter,” said Árpád Kocsis, managing director of BSI, in the announcement.
The Balaton Swim has a 45-year history and is now not only one of Hungary’s oldest recreational sporting events, but also Europe’s largest open water swimming event.
The first event in 1979 had only 365 participants, but today that number has grown many times over, the press release emphasized. The course record for men is held by Olympic champion Kristóf Rasovszky with a time of 57 minutes (2020), while Olympic champion Éva Risztov is the record holder for women with a time of 60 minutes and 58 seconds (2016).
Photo: MTI/Máthé Zoltán
The organizers are once again paying special attention to safety this year, with the backbone of the safety measures being a floating corridor consisting of over 150 sailboats, providing rest and handhold opportunities every 40-50 meters.
In addition, lifeguards, police motorboats and three hospital boats will be on standby on the water.
The swim will only take place in ideal weather conditions, with the final decision being announced two days before the event. If weather conditions are favorable, the swim will start from Révfülöp between 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 26.
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