ATHENS – The historic swimming event,
the Authentic Marathon Swim, made a dynamic comeback for the third consecutive
year, July 1-3, at Artemision, providing participants with the opportunity to
enjoy unique open water swimming routes at Pefki Evia in the Municipality of
Istiea – Edipsos.
Amateur and professional swimmers
from 14 countries, including the United States (for a third consecutive year),
Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, visited and supported North
Evia on the occasion of the event, and discovered the region’s cultural and
sports wealth. The Prime Minister’s representative, Deputy Minister of Rural
Development & Food Simos Kedikoglou honored the Authentic Marathon Swim
with his presence, while Deputy Minister of Culture & Sports Lefteris
Avgenakis expressed his support for the event through his greeting.
Dynamic presence of three marathon
swimming Hall of Famers
World-class names with accolades in
the Olympic Games were in attendance at Pefki Evia, adding a global magnitude
to the event. After two years and his first participation, the Bulgarian
Olympian and Hall of Famer Petar Stoychev with four participations in Olympics
and 11 consecutive titles in major international open water marathon swimming
FINA series visited Greece again. German marathon swimming Hall of Famer and
world champion Christof Wandratsch, winner of many world championships, cups,
and records, and English Hall of Famer Kate Steels, who was named the Woman of
the Year 2021 at the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA) Awards,
visited Greece for the first time to participate in the event. All three top
athletes were honored by Istiea-Edipsos Mayor Ioannis Kontzias.
Global Recognition for the Marathon
Authentic Swim
A historic moment arrived for the
Authentic Marathon Swim as the event was recognized globally by WOWSA and is
now part of the UltraMarathon Swim Series, along with only six other races, for
the time being, from around the world.
The series promotes the world’s
coldest, hardest, longest, toughest, most extreme open water swims around the
world, with the Authentic Marathon Swim featuring its 14.5km and 10km courses.
From 2023, athletes who complete in the Authentic Marathon Swim will receive a
separate rating in this series of events.
The Greek swimming stars
The Authentic Marathon Swim also
attracted Greek athletes who are recognized in marathon swimming, such as the
open water masters’ world champion Vicky Kouveli, the three-time Greek champion
and two-time English Channel marathon swimmer Sofia Psilolignou, and the
English Channel marathon swimmer Giannis Kotsiopoulos while Greek champions
such as Ilektra Lebl, Dimitris Negris, Stellina Aplanti, Panagiotis Bolanos,
George Skotadis who announced that he will be swimming with the colors of the
Greek national team, and Olga Ntalla who returned to the event for a second
year, were also present.
Three race records at the 10km &
3km routes
This year’s Authentic Marathon Swim
brought out many emotions and as always in demanding swimming routes, with
strong sea elements had three unique route records. In the authentic 14.5km
route “Skyllias & Hydna” crossing, which allowed swimmers from around the
world to swim over the shipwrecks of the naval battle of Artemision that took
place in 480 BC, for the first time, on July 2, the athletes followed the
example of Skyllias and his daughter Hydna, the very first “marathon swimmers,”
according to the Father of History Herodotus (8.8) and other historians. The
winner of the demanding route, where 2,500 years ago the Persian fleet
experienced major disasters, was the Greek champion George Skotadis with an
amazing race that lasted 03:14’48’’, while among the women, Edie Markovich from
the U.S. finished first. In the 10km race crossing, the German Hall of Famer
Christof Wandratsch won with 02:38’50’’, breaking the record held by the
Bulgarian Petar Stoychev by 1 minute and 25 seconds, while in the women’s race,
Vicky Kouveli came first. George Douvanas won in the 5km and Liliyana Georgieva
from Bulgaria was first in the women’s category. George Arniakos finished first
with a record time of 00:37’51’’ in the 3km, while Ilektra Lebl came first in
the women’s category, with a record time of 00:40’13’’. Stavroula Katouni won
in the 1.5km, while Christos Trivyzas came first in the men’s race.
Finally, hundreds of children filled
the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos with smiles by participating in the 500m
children’s route that had Pefki beach as its starting and finishing point.
All the detailed results are
available online:
14.5km: https://bit.ly/3Ih5EbQ
10km: https://bit.ly/3AsHtFm
1.5km: https://bit.ly/3nGLjDk
500m: https://bit.ly/3yJYQAv
All routes were designed by the
race’s top technical director with distinctions in Olympic Games and world
championships in open water swimming Nikos Gemelos. The warm-up of the athletes
was undertaken by physical education instructor Mandy Persaki.
The event was held with absolute
safety in accordance with FINA regulations and the approval of the Hellenic
Swimming Federation. The Authentic Marathon Swim provided once again everyone
with a safety swimming buoy since its use by professional and amateur athletes
was mandatory in all routes. For each participant in the 14.5km and 10km routes
there was an escort-boat, while the lifeguards of Lifeguard Patrol were for
another year next to the swimmers.
Open Water Sea Kayaking for the first
time in a Greek sports event
The top Greek marathon expedition
team in the open water sea South Evian Gulf team, not only accompanied swimmers
in the 5km, 3km and 1.5km races, but also offered lessons on the basic
techniques of open water sea kayaking, while getting participants acquainted
with the boats on land and then allowing them to paddle in the straits of Artemision.
The event was organized by the
Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos and the entire Local Government with the Region
of Central Greece, the Organization of Cultural Development for Central Greece
(O.P.A.S.T.E.) and the Regional Union of Municipalities of Central Greece.
In the context of the event’s third
year Istiea-Edipsos Mayor Kontzias said: “The historic podium on which the race
stands, gave us encouragement from the first moment to organize this event. We
always have the races’ safety as our top priority and we want our place to
celebrate every time by hosting visitors, professional and amateur swimmers,
and those who want to swim in the waters of Artemision and be part of this
celebration. Our Municipality continues to highlight the history and cultural
heritage of the place through the Authentic Marathon Swim and its actions. I
would like to warmly thank the entire Greek state, the Region of Central
Greece, the Regional Union of Municipalities of Central Greece as well as all
the sponsors who stood by us in this effort to rebuild the place. We look
forward to seeing you all next year.”
The protection of the environment is
a priority
Sports as a physical human activity
needs a healthy natural environment. In the context of the Authentic Marathon
Swim, the event collaborated for the second year with the Civil Non-Profit
Company p3=Plastic Pollution Prevention for the protection of the natural
landscape in Pefki and the environmental information of the athletes and all
participants. The plan that was designed and implemented had the reduction and
management of waste, the recycling of over 80% of the plastics used, the zero
consumption of paper, the reduction of water consumption, the reduction of
pollution from transportation, the information and awareness of athletes and
spectators and the conservation and protection of local biodiversity as its
goals. Pefki beach was cleaned by the event’s volunteers’ group, while
throughout the three days all plastic packaging was collected in designated
recycling bins and was promoted for reuse.
Research on the financial footprint
of sports tourism for a second year
The Authentic Marathon Swim
collaborated once again with the Sports Management Society of the leading
private educational institution in the country, Deree – The American College of
Greece, investing in research and collection of important data about the
financial footprint of sports tourism in North Evia. During the races, a survey
was conducted on participating athletes and visitors of the region, the results
of which will be presented in the coming months.
Symbolic actions honoring the history
of marathon swimming
On July 1, the Authentic Marathon
Swim, honoring the history of the area, held a symbolic event at the ancient
settlement of Artemision where Mavroelia from Artemision, which is also known
as Olive Mavromandila, can be found. It is a monument of nature and local
history, one of the oldest olive trees in the world, dating back over 2,500
years. Winners of the routes were symbolically awarded with a branch of Mavroelia.
Thanasis Polykandriotis concert
The Athens Concert Hall traveled to
North Evia in an effort to contribute to its cultural revitalization. As part
of the “Bridges of Music” events, on July 1 a concert was held at Pefki by the
band of the famous Greek composer and bouzouki master Thanasis Polykandriotis.
The event was part of the “Artemision 480 BC” Authentic Marathon Swim.
Music Concert by the Hellenic Navy
Music Band
Moreover, on July 2, activities
included a Music Convention with the participation of the Hellenic Navy Music
Band, connecting the historic naval battle of Artemision with the present and
honoring the naval feat. The Hellenic Navy’s Music Department held a music
concert in honor of the Artemision naval battle and the Authentic Marathon Swim.
Local products festival
During the three-day event, an
exhibition of local food products and tastings was held in collaboration with
Evia’s Federation of Trade and Entrepreneurship “Evia Epichirin.”
The Authentic Marathon Swim
collaborated with hotels in the region with the aim of revitalizing North Evia
and strengthening the Greek tourism product. The hospitality sponsors that
supported the event were: Altamar Hotel, Maria Louiza Apartments, Island,
Mirtia Hotel, Hydna Studios, Ilios Studios, Villa Anastasia, Artemis Rooms
Pefki, Meliti Studios, Ellaeon Throesma, Prigkipessa Studios, Sunset Pefki,
Viki Studios, Galini Hotel Pefki, Apolonio, Lito Hotel, Kerasiotis Apartments,
and Asimina Rooms.
Aidipsos Ferries in collaboration
with Lokris Travel, Edipsos Ferries and Glyfa Ferries, offered discounts from
10% up to 50% to the event’s visitors and participants, while facilitating the
access to North Evia from South Greece on the Arkitsa-Edipsos ferry routes and
from Northern and Central Greece on the Glyfa-Agiokampos ferry routes.
The Authentic Marathon Swim was held
under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourism
Organization with the approval of the Hellenic Swimming Federation. The event
joined the Greek actions of the #BeactiveHellas 2022 program of the European
Commission which is held under the auspices of the General Secretariat of
Sports.
With the event’s hashtags
#authenticmarathonswim and #visitnorthevia, the Authentic Marathon Swim sent a
strong message on social media about the uniqueness of North Evia and the need
for people to support and visit the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos.
Website: www.authenticmarathonswim.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/AuthenticMarathonSwim
Instagram Page: www.instagram.com/authenticmarathonswim
Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/themarathonswim
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCYxMgl-j5wgosL10lyRay5Q
George Skotadis finished first in the
14.5km Skyllias & Hydna race in the Authentic Marathon Swim. Photo by
Konstantinos Balalas / Authentic Marathon Swim
Left to right: Istiea-Edipsos Mayor
Ioannis Kontzias, Petar Stoychev, Kate Steels, and Christof Wandratsch. Photo
by Konstantinos Balalas / Authentic Marathon Swim
Races Ultimate Safety
Vicky Kouveli is congratulated by the
Prime Minister’s representative, Deputy Minister of Rural Development &
Food Simos Kedikoglou. Photo by Konstantinos Balalas / Authentic Marathon Swim
Swimming action from the Authentic
Marathon Swim 2022. Photo by South Evian Gulf Team / Authentic Marathon Swim
Swimming action from the Authentic
Marathon Swim 2022. Photo by South Evian Gulf Team / Authentic Marathon Swim
Drone photo from the venue of the
Authentic Marathon Swim 2022. Photo by p3=Plastic Pollution Prevention /
Authentic Marathon Swim
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