The Authentic Marathon Swim took place for the third consecutive year in Artemision, from 1-3 July attracting amateur and professional swimmers from 14 countries as well as visitors exploring the beauties of North Evia. The event has been internationally recognised by WOWSA and is now part of the UltraMarathon Swim Series, along with only six other races worldwide.
Swimmers from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, visited and supported North Evia on the occasion of the event, including officials like Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food Simos Kedikoglou and Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports Lefteris Avgenakis.
Participants got to swim alongside Bulgarian Olympian Petar Stoychev, German marathon swimming champion Christof Wandratsch, and English Hall of Famer Kate Steels. Greek champions Vicky Kouveli, Sofia Psilolignou, and Giannis Kotsiopoulos were also there, alongside Ilektra Lebl, Dimitris Negris, Stellina Aplanti, Panagiotis Bolanos, George Skotadis and Olga Ntalla.
Skotadis in men and Edie Markovich from the U.S. in the women’s category become the first modern swimmers to follow the example of Skyllias and his daughter Hydna, the very first “marathon swimmers” completing the 14.5km route according to the Father of History Herodotus (8.8) and other historians.
In the 10km race crossing, Wandratsch won, while in the women’s race, Kouveli came first. George Douvanas won in the 5km and Liliyana Georgieva from Bulgaria was first in the women’s category. George Arniakos finished first in the 3km, while Ilektra Lebl came first in the women’s category. Stavroula Katouni won in the 1.5km, while Christos Trivyzas came first in the men’s race.
Hundreds of children filled the Municipality of Istiea-Edipsos with smiles by participating in the 500m children’s route that had Pefki beach as its starting and finishing point while the Greek marathon expedition team accompanied swimmers, offering lessons on the basic techniques of open water sea kayaking.
A concert was held at Pefki by the band of the famous Greek composer and bouzouki master Thanasis Polykandriotis on the first night while on 2 July a Music Convention with the participation of the Hellenic Navy Music Band, connecting the historic naval battle of Artemision with the present and honoring the naval feat entertained the audience.
During the three-day event, an exhibition of local food products and tastings was held in collaboration with Evia’s Federation of Trade and Entrepreneurship “Evia Epichirin.”
The Authentic Marathon Swim was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourism Organization with the approval of the Hellenic Swimming Federation. The event joined the Greek actions of the #BeactiveHellas 2022 program of the European Commission which is held under the auspices of the General Secretariat of Sports.
