WOWSA: The Institution Shaping and Celebrating Global Open Water Ultramarathons

Written By: Victor Allan Araujo Ferreira

Open water ultramarathons are a sport that pushes the limits of human endurance. Athletes take on long distances in open waters, where factors like currents, tides, and water temperature add layers of complexity to each competition. And while the sport has been growing in popularity, much of this success can be attributed to the work of the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA), an organization that has been organizing, regulating, and promoting the sport globally since 1961. To better understand WOWSA’s impact and its role in the professionalization of open water ultramarathon swimming, we spoke with Catarina Porfirio, one of the most accomplished athletes in Brazil and worldwide.

WOWSA was born out of the need to bring visibility and structure to open water marathons, a sport that over the years has spread across continents, gaining more participants and more challenges. The mission of the organization, which has become a global reference over the decades, is not only to promote the sport but to ensure it grows safely, with well-organized events and athletes properly prepared to take on the challenges of each race.

"When I started, WOWSA was simply a reference for the more experienced athletes—a seal of quality that guaranteed the races were well-organized," explains Catarina Porfirio, an athlete with more than a decade of experience in the sport. Recognized globally for achievements like the solo swim of 53 km from Praia Vermelha to Barra de Guaratiba (which entered the Guinness World Records), Catarina has a unique perspective on the evolution of open water ultramarathon swimming. "Today, WOWSA is much more than that. It is responsible for regulating the sport, creating rankings, and ensuring each event adheres to international standards of safety and quality," she adds.

One of WOWSA’s greatest contributions is the validation of events. For a competition to be recognized by the organization, it must meet a series of well-defined criteria. Among these criteria are athlete safety, proper medical support, constant monitoring of water conditions, and tracking each swimmer throughout the race. This ensures that the events offer real challenges but without compromising the athletes’ safety.

"Nowadays, an athlete competing in a WOWSA-validated event knows they are facing a legitimate challenge," Catarina says. "These validation standards have transformed open water marathons into global, professional, and much more organized events, attracting not only more athletes but also sponsors and media attention," she observes. Therefore, race validation has become a guarantee of quality, raising the level of the sport and providing visibility and opportunities for everyone involved.

Another key pillar of WOWSA is the creation of annual rankings that recognize the best performances of swimmers in open water ultramarathons around the world. These rankings not only celebrate the top athletes but also promote healthy competition and the appreciation of extraordinary feats.

"These rankings are essential, not only for giving visibility to the athlete’s work but also as a form of encouragement. We know that every position in the rankings reflects immense effort and serves as motivation for swimmers around the world," says Catarina, who takes pride in being among the top open water ultramarathon athletes.

In addition, WOWSA organizes prestigious awards, such as the WOWSA Awards, which recognize everything from the best swimmers of the year to the greatest achievements in the sport, celebrating excellence and overcoming challenges. Catarina, who has been recognized for her accomplishments, emphasizes the value of these awards: "These awards are a reflection not only of my dedication but of the effort and resilience that the sport demands."

Despite the advancements, safety remains a central concern for WOWSA. To ensure the integrity of athletes, the organization provides specific guidelines on how events should be conducted, including recommendations on safety equipment, such as buoys and GPS, and the presence of medical teams during the races.

Safety is crucial, as factors such as water temperature, currents, and physical exhaustion can pose serious risks during long-distance open water marathons. WOWSA works diligently to create a safe environment where athletes of different levels can compete with confidence.

Additionally, WOWSA is actively working to develop the sport, aiming to attract more countries and regions into the open water marathon circuit. According to Catarina, the potential for growth in the sport is immense. "With WOWSA’s support, open water ultramarathon swimming is expanding into new regions like Africa and Asia, which helps diversify the athlete pool even further," she notes. For her, the future of the sport lies in its globalization and inclusion, which will allow more people to get involved and benefit from open water practices.

WOWSA has been the driving force behind the transformation of open water ultramarathons into a professional, structured, and globally recognized sport. Its tireless work in race validation, creating rankings, organizing awards, and promoting safety has helped turn this extreme endurance challenge into a passion shared by athletes and fans worldwide.

With WOWSA’s support, open water ultramarathon swimming continues its journey of growth, facing new challenges and seizing opportunities as the sport expands. As Catarina Porfirio aptly put it, "The future of open water ultramarathons is bright, and with WOWSA, that brightness will only continue to grow."