One of the world’s toughest one-day races, ÖTILLÖ, is celebrating its ten-year anniversary on 7 September 2015. 120 international teams of two will be on the start line at Sandhamn in the archipelago of Stockholm, Sweden. 550 teams from all over the world are still on the waiting list.
To tap into increasing popularity for all things swimrun, the race to be broadcast live on Monday 7 September from 06:00 CET on otillo.se/live.
ÖTILLÖ is the original and the pioneer of the fast growing sport of swimrun. It is the longest swimrun race in the world. Competitors run and swim 75K in their wetsuit and running shoes over and between 26 islands in the archipelago, consisting of more than 10,000 islands.
The organizers note that as the sport is growing the racing gets faster, competition fiercer and with a growing number of mixed and women’s teams. The time to beat is last year’s course record by world champions Lennart Moberg and Daniel Hansson from Sweden, 8 h 16 min 19 sec. Most teams reach the finish line at dusk, many hours later.
The whole thing started with a bet in a bar between two brothers and two friends. For two years they challenged each other to get from the island of Utö to the island of Sandhamn, in the Stockholm archipelago.
Race organizers Michael Lemmel and Mats Skott liked the idea, got involved and created the race, ÖTILLÖ, in 1996. For the first edition, nine teams participated, two reached the finish line. Today the race is building a profile as ‘one of the most prestigious endurance races in the world and a whole new sport has been created, with more than 60 registered swimrun events world wide.’
“Many thought we were crazy creating a race of such a wild bet,” said race founders and race directors Lemmel and Skott. “No one, including us, would ever imagine the huge development of swimrun these last years. Swimrun is growing popular all around the globe! The reasons are many, most importantly because you race in teams of two, together with a friend in wild nature.”
They continued, “The natural experience is huge and you do not need any complicated equipment. We are looking forward to celebrating 10 years of ÖTILLÖ and swimrun on September 7 and are humble but proud over the success!”
ÖTILLÖ consists of 65K trail running on island trails, slippery rocks, unbeaten terrain and a total of 10K open water swimming in the cold water of the Baltic Sea. There is no time to lose, participants run in their wetsuit and swim in their shoes!
The competition is fierce, as the 120 teams with a bib number are hand picked from qualifying races and merit applications. Many applicants miss a spot, as 120 teams is the maximum number.
Mats Andersson is one of the four original friends that challenged each other in the bar. He is the only competitor who has finished all nine previous editions as well as all the qualifying races for ÖTILLÖ.
”ÖTILLÖ is one of the world’s toughest challenges but also the nicest,” said Mats Andersson who will celebrate the 10th anniversary competing with his brother who also belongs to the original four.
“Despite the growing popularity the race has been able to keep the early spirit of a few friends swimming and running in the archipelago. The great team spirit and good vibes amongst all the athletes count for all swimrun events and especially at ÖTILLÖ. And ÖTILLÖ is proof of a good idea!”
ÖTILLÖ – the Swimrun World Championship 10th edition 2015
- 75K running and swimming from dawn till dusk
- 65K of trail running
- 10K of open water swimming
- Water temperature between 10 – 15 degrees C
- 26 islands to cross
- 50 changes between running and swimming
- The swims are between 100 and 1,780 metres long
- The runs are between 70 and 19,700 metres long
- Teams of two, for safety reasons
- 120 teams – 3 categories: Men, Mixed & Women teams
- 24 nationalities
- Course record: 8 hours 16 minutes (2014) – Lelle Moberg and Daniel Hansson
- Winners 2014 Men: Lelle Moberg and Daniel Hansson
- Winners 2014 Mixed: Ulrika Eriksson and Jonas Udehn
- Winners 2014 Women: Bibben Nordblom and Charlotta Nilsson
- Ranked by CNN as one of the toughest endurance challenges in the world
- Featured in NYT, Outside Magazine, l’Equipe Magazine, TF1 and many more
