In 2015, Oceanman started out in Spain and Italy as the first global open water swimming races that are designed by swimmers, for swimmers. A year after that, in 2016, Oceanman became the only International World Championship in Open Waters. The championship offers professional and amateur swimmers the opportunity to race in beautiful destinations, such as the Caribbean Sea, Pacific and Mediterranean.
Currently, there are 7 Oceanman races around the world. Oceanman is planning its expansion to more iconic destinations by preparing 10 additional races. The event welcomes participation from swimmers of all abilities, from beginners to intermediate and elite swimmers.
Oceanman Langkawi
Oceanman Langkawi will kick off the 2018 Oceanman Series at Tanjung Rhu, coming 25 November 2017. Langkawi has been chosen as Oceanman’s only Asian country for the new series.
There will be three distance categories in the competition: Oceanman (10km), Half Oceanman (5km) and Amateur (1.5km). Each category will be further divided into several age group subcategories. The top 10 men and women from each category will be qualified to compete for the World Championship title.
Race pack collection, swim course training and race briefing will be held one day prior to the event. Participants are entitled to an Oceanman T-Shirt and a swim cap in one of four colours that signify your chosen category.
Supported by Malaysia Government
Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz, Tourism and Culture Minister, expressed his honour that Malaysia is the only Asian country selected for the Oceanman’s 2018 Series. He added that Malaysia is able of offering not only great adventure destinations but also the capability and capacity to support international sports events. He said,
Oceanman Langkawi is another acclamation of Malaysia’s strategic location and attractive offerings to the international sporting world. We are honoured that Malaysia is set to be featured as one of the destination countries for the series leading up to 2020.
In conjunction with ‘Visit Malaysia Year’, we will bid to host the World Championships in 2020. We look forward to adding the competition to Malaysia’s international sporting calendar, which will further solidify our tourism offerings and boost repeat visitor numbers.
According to Tony Nagamaiah, General Manager of Malaysia Major Events, Malaysia has established itself as a renowned sporting destination for running, cycling, and multisports events over the years. These events have attracted athletes and participants from all over the world.
Nagamaiah added that Oceanman open water swimming competition builds on the strong foundation that Malaysia has in place to support international sporting events.
Oceanman Langkawi Will Stay Until 2020
Langkawi is here to stay as the Oceanman’s Asian venue until the 2020 season largely because of Malaysia’s growing reputation as a sporting nation with scenic destinations, said Oceanman’s Chief Executive Officer, Fermin Egido Alonso.
Alonso explained,
As we rapidly expand the Oceanman network globally, we are pleased to choose Malaysia to represent our Asian stop. Malaysia ticks all the requisite boxes as a destination that provides a complete suite of offerings which suit our competition needs.
Tough Gorilla will be overseeing the organisation of Oceanman Langkawi. Azura Zainol Abidin, Tough Gorilla’s Managing Director, said, “The mass-participation sporting segment in Malaysia is growing fast, and there is increasing demand for longer distance swim events. We expect to see top swimmers from the region, including Malaysian national swimmers and enthusiasts, to compete in this inaugural event.”
The event is supported by Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) and Malaysia Major Events.
Featured Photo Credit: Oceanman Langkawi – Malaysia
