A handful of former champions of the discipline set about reviving the most famous of open water swimming races, and finally succeeded in setting up a series of unique events in several French towns, in the four corners of the country, and also abroad.
The origins of Open Swim Stars
The origin of this sporting event is the Traversée de Paris à la nage. This event was created in… 1905. At the time, it was organised by the newspaper “L’Auto”. It took place in open water on the Seine and consisted of an 11.6 kilometre course between the Pont National and the Auteuil Viaduct. A second race, this time reserved for amateurs, was also set up the following year. The race ran for many years before coming to an end. In the meantime, it was emulated by other swims across French cities, organised in Toulouse (1906), Lyon (1907), Lille (1910) and Bordeaux (1912). Similar crossings were even organised abroad, in London, Brussels and Rome.
In 2012, Olympic swimmers Stephan Caron (Olympic medallist in Seoul and Barcelona, world vice-champion, European champion and thirty times French champion) and Laurent Neuville (twice Olympic finalist, 4x100m freestyle world vice-champion and former captain of the French team) had the crazy idea of resurrecting the legendary Paris swim. The Open Swim Stars was born.
They are bringing on board other personalities from the world of swimming, including Frédérick Bousquet (Olympic medallist in Beijing, world champion and European champion), Harald Eltvedt (French junior champion and Franco-American entrepreneur) and Karen Pickering (four-time British world champion swimmer). Sophie Reinauld, a company director and the only non-champion in the team, has added her skills and passion to the organisation of the event. She is in charge of relations with partners and the press.
The Open Swim Stars event
Although only eight competitors qualified for the first race in 1905 (several hundred wished to enter and so a qualifying event had to be organised), it is now not unusual for an Open Swim Stars to attract several hundred participants to the various events.
The event consists of an open water swimming circuit. Different categories are open to participants. It is generally possible to take part in races of 1, 2, 2.5, 5 kilometres or even one nautical mile (1,852 metres). There are even flipper events.
Thanks to these varied categories, the Open Swim Stars is open to everyone. You can find the event that best suits your level and ability. The events are generally open to participants aged between 12 and 72. Just under a third of participants are female.
This openness and special spirit means that during these events, pool swimmers and open water enthusiasts, amateur and occasional swimmers will rub shoulders with triathletes and competitive swimmers. It’s a unique opportunity to surpass oneself and measure one’s own abilities in a good-natured atmosphere, despite the competition. Open water swimming is a particularly formative discipline, as the swimming conditions are so different from those of a quiet swimming pool. Freshwater, saltwater, calm pools, swells or rough seas, Open Swim Stars events give you the chance to discover different swimming experiences, each more rewarding than the last.
Specific features depending on the town
Depending on the local conditions and the capacity of the venue, each city can organise events in different categories, the important thing being that the races take place in open water.
At the Open Swim Stars Paris, swimmers will be offered courses of 5 kilometres, 2 kilometres, 2 kilometres with flippers and 1 kilometre in the Pantin pool and the Canal de l’Ourcq. Lyon will be offering three courses of 1.1, 3.5 and 5.5 kilometres in the Rhône. In Douarnenez, the 1 kilometre, 1 nautical mile and 5 kilometre courses will take place at sea.
Each of the eleven organising cities (Paris, Douarnenez, Nyon – Léman (Switzerland), Lac de Madine, Lyon, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Agde, Dunkerque, La Baule and Le Havre) makes the most of their specific characteristics to offer participants original events in an exceptional setting, over one or two days. Whether it’s the swimmers or the spectators, who always turn out in force, everyone can enjoy the scenery and the spectacle.
- Saturday 25 July: Douarnenez, Sables Blancs beach – Tréboul.
- Saturday 1 August: Nyon – Léman (Switzerland), plage des trois jetées.
- Saturday 8 August: Lac de Madine, Monsard Madine 1 beach.
- Sunday 30 August: Lyon, banks of the Rhône.
- Sunday 6 September: Toulouse, banks of the Garonne / Place de la Daurade.
- Sunday 13 September: Strasbourg, quai des Bateliers.
- Saturday 19 September: Agde, town centre – Grau d’Agde beach.
The ideal sports bag for swimmers…
And to get you ready for the Open Swim Stars, consider the Karkoa compartmentalised swim bag to separate your wet stuff from the dry and your computer from your pool stuff!
