Organised by Open Water Event in partnership with the Royal Moroccan Swimming Federation, this open water swimming competition, unique in its format and venue, is now anchored in the international calendar of the discipline, indicates a press release from the organisers.
For the 7th edition, 120 swimmers, representing 20 nationalities, will attempt to surpass themselves during the 4 stages of this itinerant race of 30 km in total.
“Since the launch of the Morocco Swim Trek in 2015, we have seen the number of participants increase over the years, from 60 for the first edition to 120 today and 140 in 2019. An evolution also noted in the nationalities represented, since this year we are welcoming swimmers from France, the United States, Brazil, Romania, Sweden, Slavs, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Germany, Morocco and even Israel. Today, we are more than proud to have made this cosmopolitan event an ode to diversity and sharing,” says Edith Molina, Founder and Organizer of the Morocco Swim Trek, quoted in the press release.
And it is the shared passion for the sea, the love of challenge, or just the pleasure of discovering or rediscovering the beautiful region of Dakhla, which unites and animates these 120 swimmers from all over the world. Indeed, beyond sport, the Morocco Swim Trek conveys values of perseverance and surpassing oneself, shared by all the participants.
“Swimmers of all ages, amateurs or professionals, that’s what makes this competition unique. Moreover, this year we are welcoming, exceptionally, a young 16-year-old Moroccan swimmer, alongside a 65-year-old swimmer, the oldest swimmer of the edition. Thus, all participants will have the opportunity to surpass themselves in the face of the currents and the wind, particular signs of the Dakhla region”, continues Ms. Molina.
This open water trek is also a revealer of Moroccan talents and even champions. Indeed, during the previous edition, two young Moroccan swimmers, Mohamed Yassine Bensaleh and Yasser Benchebba, aged 19 and 20 respectively, won first and second place in the non-wetsuit category. They were followed by the renowned Italian swimmer Fabio Calmasini, aged 51.
The environmental aspect also plays a prominent role in this event, whose rules were drawn up with total respect for nature and the environment. For example, any throwing of waste into the water by swimmers is a disqualifying element. Also, since its creation, the Morocco Swim Trek has been part of this approach, particularly through the organization of awareness workshops for young people through actions carried out in partnership with local associations. Moreover, in 2018, the event welcomed Anne France Didier, President of the Défismed association, PLAN BLEU Director at the Ministry of Ecology -France-, responsible for steering SDG14 Ocean at the delegation of the sea and the coast.
Finally, solidarity and sharing constitute the 3rd pillar of the Morocco Swim Trek. “The organization of the Morocco Swim Trek is for us a way to share our passion and to promote a region that is dear to us. We are lucky to have around us a team of friends and volunteers who share the same values as well as partners who have always supported us”, underlines in turn Renata Thieck-Alami, member of the organization of the Morocco Swim Trek.
Early sponsors such as Nadia Ben Bahtane, the first Moroccan woman to swim alone across the Strait of Gibraltar in 2015, and Jacques Tuset, a world-renowned French swimmer, will take part in the adventure this year. Alongside them, ambassadors such as Dino Sebti, a passionate swimmer who crossed the Strait of Gibraltar in 2017, Brazilian professional swimmer Thais Sant’Antana, the coach of the Swedish national open water swimming team Mikael Rosen and French triathlete Toumy Degham.
Moreover, another particularity of this 7th edition, three swimmers compete to raise funds for charities. Nadia Ben Bahtane and David Reynal represent respectively Pink Wave, an initiative for the fight against cancer and Clothilde Marchal for the Association PSE -Pour un Sourire d’Enfant-.
“I am happy to be part of the Morocco Swim Trek adventure since its first edition. And this year even more, since I am swimming for a cause that is dear to me. I am also particularly proud that Morocco is hosting an event of such quality and magnitude. A competition that has retained the loyalty of several international swimmers who return for the beauty of Dakhla, the unique format of the events and the spirit of sharing and friendship that makes the Morocco Swim Trek special”, concludes Nadia Ben Bahtane, patron of the event.
2024-08-31 21:29:29