NEW YORK—Overcoming great odds, including the gross smell of the water, Australian John Van Wisse immerged victorious at the 26th Annual Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, the longest annual swim race in the world. At the race on Saturday, Van Wisse competed against 21 top distance swimmers.
The 28.5-mile race started at the South Cove in the World Financial Center around 9 a.m. Saturday morning and finished at the same location around 5 p.m.
"It's always tough, what an experience," said Van Wisse. "This is a fantastic place, New York is amazing, I'm looking forward to seeing this awesome city."
The swimmers took the traditional counter-clockwise route, proceeding around the southern tip of the island at Battery Park, up the East River with the incoming tide, preserving their energy to face the treacherous currents of "Hell Gate" in upper Manhattan. They then traveled the length of the Harlem River to the long home stretch down the Hudson River, back to the finish line at South Cove. Each swimmer is guided by a kayaker and supported by an escort boat carrying the swimmer's crew and a race official.
The race is organized by the Manhattan Island Foundation, the authority on open-water swimming in New York.
Dozens of swimmers, both solo and in relays, were turned away. The swimmers compete wearing regular bathing suits, not wet suits.
Feeds