From a Swedish bet to a global community: how a wild idea became a worldwide movement.
If you’re new to swimrun, you might be thinking of a simple run–swim–run like an aquathlon. But swimrun is a whole different adventure; and its story is just as unique as the sport itself.
This article breaks down what swimrun is, where it came from, and how it made its way to Australia.
What is swimrun?
Swimrun (yep, all one word) is a multi-stage endurance event where participants alternate between trail running and open water swimming, seamlessly and continuously.
There are no transitions. No change zones. No gear swaps.
You wear your shoes during the swims, your swim gear during the runs, and carry everything with you from start to finish.
To be considered a true swimrun, a course must include at least two swim and two run legs, all held outdoors and in natural terrain. For example, our Sydney East Enduro course features 22 legs: 11 swims and 11 runs.
While swimrun events vary in length and landscape, most favour runners, with around 70–80% of the distance on foot. But the swim sections keep things refreshing – literally.
Gear up and go
Typical swimrun gear includes:
- Shoes
- Wetsuit or swim-friendly activewear
- Pull buoy
- Hand paddles
- Swim cap, goggles, and whistle
Optional: team tether or tow float (required at some international events).
The catch? Whatever you start with, you finish with.
Swimrun can be completed solo or in teams of two, though many events – especially longer ones – are team-based. Team members must stay within 10 metres of each other for the entire course.
Where it all began: a bet over beers
Swimrun was born in Sweden in 2002 after a late-night bet at a bar overlooking the Stockholm archipelago. Anders Malm (owner of Utö Värdshus hotel), Janne Lindberg, and the Andersson brothers challenged each other to traverse 75km of island chain – from Sandhamn to Utö – by running across each island and swimming between them.
The twist? They had to pass through three restaurants on the way. The last team to each stop had to eat, drink, and pay for whatever the team ahead of them ordered. The final team to reach Utö covered the hotel and dinner bill.
Their first attempt took 28 hours. Too tired to celebrate, they tried again the next year, with the same result.
Turning a wild idea into a real event
In 2005, the original group pitched the concept to experienced Swedish adventure racers Michael Lemmel and Mats Skott, who were intrigued enough to give it a go. They launched ÖtillÖ (“island to island” in Swedish), and in 2006, the first official commercial swimrun took place over the original course.
Only two of the 11 teams finished within the time cut-off.
ÖtillÖ refined the format and flipped the course – now running from Sandhamn to Utö – and it became the Swimrun World Championship. While the race has evolved, its core spirit remains: move together, stay connected, and respect the environment.
Swimrun goes global
Since 2006, swimrun has exploded in popularity, with over 500 races across 24 countries and 5 continents.
Each event embraces the same key principles:
- Community over competition.
- No transitions
- Natural terrain
- Self-sufficiency
Swimrun lands in Australia
In 2016, Swimrun Australia’s Rose Bay to Watsons Bay event became the first official swimrun in the Southern Hemisphere, pioneering the format in Australia.
Despite a pause during COVID and a change in ownership, Swimrun Australia is now back with a growing calendar of events:
- Sydney East
- Sydney North
- Gold Coast
- Melbourne
- (and more to come!)
Other events like Swimrun Rottnest (WA) and Trans Cape Swimrun (NSW) have also popped up along the way, contributing to the sport’s grassroots growth in the region.
In New Zealand, Breca Swimrun helped lead the charge with events in Wanaka and the Bay of Islands before closing during COVID.
Where to from here?
Swimrun is still new to many Aussies, but it’s growing fast.
Whether you’re looking for a fun way to explore nature, a new challenge to share with a mate, or a fresh spin on multi-sport, swimrun is an experience like no other.
And yes, you’ll be swimming in your shoes the whole time.
You’ll barely notice with the views, vibes, and high fives along the way.
