THE SECOND ÖTILLÖ SWIMRUN WORLD SERIES RACE IN 2020 WON BY SUPER STRONG FRENCH TEAM!

The first ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series race since the Covid pandemic showed some amazing performances along this very challenging race course in the Swiss Alps of the Engadin Valley.

The Engadin valley was the perfect stage for this show down as it is the location that launched the international swimrun movement back in 2014. The imposing mountains, the emarald-colored lakes and the grueling course pushed all teams to the maximum.

The very strong Remi Mariette (FRA) & Guillaume Henneman (FRA) – Team Gravelines Triathlon showed why this well-balanced team is one of the future greats of the new generation of French racers. They fought hard and fought smart the whole way winning their second ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series in 5:21:56. a little less than 2 1/2 minutes ahead of Triathlon PROs Antony Costes & Thomas Navarro (FRA) Team “Les DT Suisse. Another French team, ARGON 18 Pierre Massonneau & Fabien Besancon finished third in 5:32:43.

In mixed the competition was equally tough with many of the top racers going for it. The winners Victor Dahl & current world champion Desirée Andersson (SWE) – Team Envol pulled the longest straw and won ahead of former world champion Martin Flinta & Johanna Edman (SWE) Team Thule Crew.  Montse Martinez Guerrero & Eduard Barcelo (AND) – Team Envol Andorra took third place. The winning time was 5:37:53 and fifth overall.

The womens category was a real hornets nest with many of the best women in the world on the start line. From the beginning Ulrika Eriksson & Hanna Skårbratt – (SWE) Team ARK Swimrun showed why they are are force to be reconned with, winning 10 minutes ahead of French Alexia Bailly & Eugenie Plane – Team Altrisquad. F ormer world champions and swimrun icons Annika Eriksson & Kristin Larson (SWE) – also team ARK Swimrun finished third. The winning time was 5:48:36.

The ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series Engadin 2020 has had a total of 103 registered teams of two, of which only 78 teams started. Over the weekend a total of around 400 racers have participated in the various races representing 24 different nationalities.

News cuts for TV: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6znmk55mdn0dhho/AADss1eiIbIKlpfRmxB1AJfwa?dl=0

High resolution photos free of right for press only: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3fupf0z43p7gkrv/AAAEwhE1Uouk84mjceQjf0xua?dl=0
Please credit the photographer: name/ÖTILLÖ Engadin (indicated in the photo)

Complete results list here:https://otilloswimrun.com/results/otillo-swimrun-engadin-results/

More information about ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Engadin: https://otilloswimrun.com/race_category/engadin/

THE RACE IN DETAIL

This 7th edition of ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series Engadin saw the 78 starting teams of two start their Sunday morning by running hard up the valley in Maloja before hitting the very steep hill up to the Lej Cavloc at 1910 metres of elevation, where the first and coldest swim waited for them. After taking a tour up the mountain the course takes them back down tight and steep trails to the top of the Sils Lake  for a warmer swim (16 C) before continuing down the Engadin Valley towards the finish line in Silvaplana. On the way seven swims and three big mountain loops would do what it could to zap the energy out of the teams. Surrounded the whole way by this amzing backdrop of mountains and glaciers. This is a massive course, at altitude with grueling uphills, hard downhills and with spectacular and at times, cold swims.

In total, they cover almost 40 km on foot and 6 km swimming with a total elevation gain of 1600 metres.

The weather has been almost perfect with an overcast morning which turned into a beautiful day with moderate winds.

Several teams had to struggle to make it in time for the two cut offs. Some had to abandon along the way. Around 85% of the teams managed to finish the race.

At all ÖTILLÖ swimrun World Series events teams race in pairs. Using each other’s strengths will push boundaries. The team experience is incomparable and is part of why swimrun is growing so fast in popularity.

103 teams of two from representing 21 nationalities travelled to the Engadin in beautiful Switzerland to compete in the ÖTILLÖ World Series race which also is the first qualifier for ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship 2021 in the Swedish archipelago.

The day prior to the race two shorter, more accessible races were organised, the ÖTILLÖ Sprint and ÖTILLÖ Experience, offering the same flavours as the longer, more challenging race but in a smaller format.

Six top teams at ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series Engadin qualify to ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship 2021 on September 6th in the Stockholm Archipelago; top 2 men, top 2 mixed, top 2 women.

Complete results list here: https://otilloswimrun.com/results/otillo-swimrun-engadin-results/

A video highlight for web use will be uploaded on Monday, August 3rd here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/d7r9m6nxhozfawy/AAAXOVBfg6-8qDR5GeDqzuIta?dl=0

THE RACE WEEKEND

ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Engadin was the first ÖTILLÖ swimrun weekend since then and followed a strict Covid-19 Safety management plan. The races were adapted to this new normal.

The Engadin Valley in the Swiss Alps hosted its seventh ÖTILLÖ Swimrun weekend. The first one was in 2014 and had the purpose to launch the international swimrun movement.

This year saw many more Swiss racers than ever before making it the biggest nation represented. Many newcomers from the Triathlon World joined us with Jan Van Berkel being one of the more well-known.

Some racers came to enjoy the beautiful sport of swimrun and some to chase the six (6) qualification spots to the “Holy Grail of swimrun”, ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship 2021.

More information about ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Engadin: .https://otilloswimrun.com/race_category/engadin/

THE LOCATION

The Engadin valley in Switzerland is a stunning location; 3 000 meter peaks, hanging glaciers, swiss cows, amazing trails and a high mountain valley studded with emerald green lakes.

This is a swimrun dream.

The Engadin Valley is well-known for the town of St Moritz.

ABOUT SWIMRUN AND ÖTILLÖ

Swimrun is the new, up and coming endurance sport growing all over the world where you alternate trail running and open water swimming along a marked course.

ÖTILLÖ started in 2006, it is the leading brand and the origin of the sport. ÖTILLÖ is Swimrun.

ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship (ÖTILLÖ meaning island to island in Swedish) is the original swimrun race, renowned as one of the toughest one-day races in the world.

https://otilloswimrun.com

RACE FORMATS

On Saturday, July 25th we hosted several shorter races to make the sport accessible to more people and to let newcomers experience the beauty of swimrun.

The EXPERIENCE distance was 7 km with 3 swim sections totalling 1400 metres. This race distance you can either do in teams of two or solo.

The SPRINT eludes to the distance and not to the speed. It was a total of 15,2 km with 4 swim sections totalling 2200 metres. This race distance you can either do in teams of two or solo.

We had close to 220 persons signed up for these beautiful tastes of ÖTILLÖ Swimrun.

On Sunday, July 26th, we had the WORLD SERIES event which acts as a Qualifier to the World Championship 2021 and where teams can collect ranking points.

The World Series race you can only do in a team of two and it is one of the most prestigeous events.

ÖTILLÖ SWIMRUN WORLD SERIES

ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Engadin  is part of the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series and a qualifier to ÖTILLÖ, the Swimrun World Championship 2021 in the Swedish archipelago.

The ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series is in its fifth season, a very different season due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Usually the World Series has eight qualifier races for ÖTILLÖ, the Swimrun World Championship.

ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series 2020

• ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Catalina, USA,  March 1st (NEW)
• ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Hvar, Croatia, April 19th – Postponed to November 2020
• ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Utö, Sweden, May 24th – Postponed to September 2020
• ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Isles of Scilly, UK, June 14th – Cancelled due to Covid-19
• ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Engadin, Switzerland, July 26th
• ÖTILLÖ Swimrun 1000 Lakes, Germany, September 20th – Cancelled due to Covid-19
• ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Cannes, France, October 18th
• ÖTILLÖ Malta, November 29th

At each World Series event an EXPERIENCE & SPRINT race is organised the day before.

ÖTILLÖ, THE SWIMRUN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

ÖTILLÖ, THE SWIMRUN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2020
15th edition on August 31st, 2020 – cancelled due to Covid-19.

The 2021 edition is scheduled for September 6th, 2021.

160 teams from all over the world.

75 km over and between 24 islands in the Stockholm Archipelago.

Renowned as one of the toughest one-day races in the world (CNN 2012)

https://otilloswimrun.com/race/otillo-swimrun-world-championship/

PHOTOS AND VIDEO FREE TO USE FOR MEDIA

Official images here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3fupf0z43p7gkrv/AAAEwhE1Uouk84mjceQjf0xua?dl=0
(please credit photographer / ÖTILLÖ)

On August 3rd you will find the Official Video here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/d7r9m6nxhozfawy/AAAXOVBfg6-8qDR5GeDqzuIta?dl=0

NEWS CUTS AND SHOT LIST FOR TV

News cuts and a shot list here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6znmk55mdn0dhho/AADss1eiIbIKlpfRmxB1AJfwa?dl=0