Swim Around Key West

From Openwaterpedia
Swim Around Key West race director Bill Welzien after completing his Century Swim, his 100th career circumnavigation swim around Key West, Florida on 19 May 2018
Kristin Jones and Cody Brunette in body paint at the 37th annual 12.5-mile Swim Around Key West in a charity swim for the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance
David Welzien with Bill Welzien after completing 122nd career solo circumnavigation swim of 20.1 km around Key West in southern Florida in 6 hours 59 minutes on 11 May 2021. His streak began in 1991 and continues through 2021

Swim Around Key West is one of the most popular marathon swims in the Americas and one of the World's Top 100 Island Swims. The marathon swim organized by Bill Welzien includes a solo division and a relay race and is one of America's Top 100 Open Water Swims.

History

The Swim Around Key West began in 1977 by Anna Fugina, who had suffered injuries from a car accident and used swimming as therapy to assist in recovery. On 4 July 1977, Fugina took roughly 12 hours to finish the circumnavigation around Key West. In 1978, she finished in eight hours. She completed the 37th annual 20.1 km Swim Around Key West in a relay in 7 hours 32 minutes.

Distance

12.5 miles (20.1 km)

Type

Ocean

Location

City Key West

State/County/Province Florida

Country USA

Region Americas

Event Information

• Location: Key West, Florida, U.S.A.
• Course: Clockwise course around Key West, the southernmost tip of Florida
• Distance: 12.5 miles (20.1 km)
• Date of Annual Race: June
• Description: The original Swim Around Key West is held in beautiful, shallow, generally calm warm waters (85°F or 29.4ºC) with the bottom of the ocean visible throughout the course. Abundant marine life includes Conch shells, manna rays, seaweed, sting rays, sea turtles, very docile nurse sharks and colorful tropical fish. Race includes a solo swim, a 2-person relay and a 3-person relay.

Race Director

Bill Welzien

External links

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