In-Seine: What if the World's Best Swimmers Can't Even Make it Around the 10km Course?

Elite swimmers could reach paces of up to 20 seconds per 100m downstream, but struggle to hit 4 minutes per 100m upstream in Paris this summer!

The 2022 FINA Marathon Swim World Series event in Paris was won by Italy’s, Gregorio Paltrinieri in the Canal de l’Ourcq, Parc de la Vilette

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TL;DR (in summary)

• Master the Currents: Learn how the fast Seine currents will impact race dynamics, with swimmers potentially racing downstream at 2'43" per 795m and struggling upstream at 24'32".

• Strategic Insights and Expert Tips: Learn key tactics for drafting, pacing, and positioning to handle strong currents effectively, and gain from Paul's personal experiences on navigating challenging swim conditions.

• Athletes to Watch: Understand how top competitors like Daniel Wiffen and Florian Wellbrock will navigate the Seine's unique challenges.

On a road to nowhere - have you ever swum in a strong current like this? The world’s best swimmers might experience currents x3 stronger than that above!

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Double the 50m World Record Pace for 200x Further!

With the world’s biggest sporting event just around the corner, the spotlight is on the Seine River, where the dynamics of the men’s and women’s 10km open water races on August 8th and 9th, as well as the triathlon on July 30th and 31st, could be dramatically influenced by its fast-flowing currents.

Imagine swimming at a blistering pace of 20 seconds per 100m when the current is behind you—twice as fast as the 50m world record for a distance 200 times further! Conversely, the world’s best swimmers may only be able to creep along at a pace of 3 to 4 minutes per 100m when battling the current, meaning they would be swimming at about half of your own normal speed. Picture that - you lapping Daniel Wiffen, the 800 and 1500m freestyle world champion (who we featured on the blog in February¹), every 200m! These contrasting speeds will make for a thrilling and strategic race unlike any other.

Today’s article delves into how these powerful currents will alter race strategies and what tactics you can use in your swimming to handle similar conditions. We'll explore the critical strategic decisions swimmers and coaches must make, from drafting techniques to feeding strategies, all influenced by the river's dynamic flow. Understanding these environmental elements will not only provide insight into the upcoming open water swimming events, but also enhance your own open water swimming skills.