The first official One Water Race, the world’s toughest long-distance race, started on August 23rd at 7.00am. The winning team, Team 4 (Sweden/Australia), crossed the finish line at Landsort with an unbelievable time of 47 hours and 19 minutes. The runner up, Team 8 (Australia), finished in an amazing 49 hours and 41 minutes. The third team Team 2 (Sweden) finished at 58 hours and 34 minutes, was the final team to pass the finish line.
Seven teams started at Arholma to challenge all physical and mental limits by competing over 250 kilometers of running, swimming, and orienteering—non-stop, across Stockholm’s archipelago to Landsort. The winners, Team 4 (Sweden/Australia) with Adriel Young, Daniel Hansson, Johan Hasselmark and Kristin Larsson, crossed the finish line after 47 hours and 19 minutes. The total prize pool is USD 100,000, of which the winning team received USD 65,000, second $27,000 and third $11,000.
The second team to finish was Team 8 (Australia) with Rob Preston (ranked 2nd in the world in endurance sports,) Elizabeth Dornom, Glenn Wilkinson, and Julian Dent, who finished a little more than 2 hours behind the winners with a time of 49 hours and 41 minutes. The third team Team 2 (Sweden) finished at 58 hours and 34 minutes, was the final team to pass the finish line.
The weather conditions have been quite fair, but the chilly nights and extreme swimming, 200 kilometers, and 50 kilometers of running and the lack of sleep has been stressful for everyone. Four teams became separated during the competition: Team 1 (US), Team 3 (US), Team 7 (US) and Team 5 (South America).
“We are extremely impressed by the performances of all the teams,” They have fought so hard and just kept going without sleep. The winning team is well-knit and has trained incredibly hard ahead of the race. My vision was a finish after 60 hours with a winning time around 55 hrs, but they managed it in an incredible 47 hours and 19 minutes, which is unbelievably strong. We are already looking forward to next year and hope that even more athletes join the race, which raises awareness for the climate challenge in our waters and oceans and elevates endurance sports.” Says Thomas Ogander, founder
“This is the most enjoyable and challenging race we have ever taken part in,” says Daniel Hansson Team 4 (Sweden/Australia). “The lack of sleep was the biggest challenge, closely followed by the weather conditions with hot days and extremely cold and dark nights. We are delighted that we managed to finish first because it will allow us to devote even more time and effort in the future,” says Daniel Hansson Team 4 (Sweden/ Australia.)
