Does anyone know what the world record is for a 3K open water swim?
I'm asking because someone told me that good swimmers swim that distance in about 33 minutes which surprised me.
It made me wonder because I'm more a short distance swimmer and that would mean that they swim 300 meters in about 3.18m if I'm correct which is a pretty fast sprint. Then I checked what the world record in 1500m is which is 14:34.56 min by Grant Hackett.
That would mean in order to swim 3K in 33 minutes you would have to almost swim at the same pace of the 1500m world record holder. Is that possible?
Former Member
considering that the olympic 10k was won in about 1hr 50min, i don't find it hard to believe that there are swimmers out there that could swim 3k in 33min.
a world record would suggest to me that it was swum on a measured course and in a very controlled environment.
Former Member
That's what I figured. I thought if you swim 3k in 33 minutes that would almost be a world record. If the 10k world record was was won in 110 minutes that would mean that 3k in 33 min would be the almost the exact same speed. Ok, 3k is much shorter but the record would probably be about 31-32 minutes.
Wow, I already thought that swimming 3k in 33 minutes is fast but swimming 10k in 1:50 is incredible.
Former Member
That is the difference between pool swimming (I sometimes call it aquarium swimming due to the perfect conditions - a bit warm though) and open water swimming. Even when the distance is a true 3 (or 10km) there are many factors that influence the time: tide or current, wind, water and air temperatures, even the amount of sunshine...
No, the Fina and my country have not registered records in open water. We (The Netherlands) actually do have a national record 5km for in the pool.
Further, how do you compare the Masters agegroups? As 19 year old I swam 22.17 on a rowing course 2km - so that is accurate. As 50+ swimmer I swim 1.06 on 5km.
Are those speeds comparable? Maybe that is worth another discussion.