Marathon Swimming at the 2024 Summer Olympics

For the fifth time, the Olympic Games programme included marathon swimming competitions. Unlike the World Championships, where athletes compete in 5 km and 10 km distances and a mixed relay is held, the Olympic Games only have competitions in one discipline – 10 km.

The competitions in Paris were held in the very center of the city on the River Seine, near the Pont Alexander III bridge. The first stage of the triathlon competition was held on the same section of the Seine. The river embankment was filled with a huge number of spectators, as people stood on the bridges under which the athletes swam. The competitors could be seen along almost the entire distance.

There were some concern prior to the Olympics because of contamination in the River Seine. However, the marathon swimming events were held there without any significant incidents or illnesses. Many of the swimmers kept close to the river banks throughout the competition to swim in cleaner water.