Who Can Participate in the Competition... and Is It Really Just About Competition?
Anyone who knows how to swim and wants to test themselves in open water can sign up, with no age limits. The youngest participants have been 9 years old, while the oldest was an 88-year-old gentleman at the time of his race!
Registration is available online at www.mosir.sopot.pl and elektronicznezapisy.pl, as well as on the day of the event from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM at the beach—entry point #23, where the event office is usually located.
Will every swimmer enjoy open water swimming? Is open water swimming “better” than pool swimming?
Open water swimming surprises with its unpredictability. Besides battling personal limits, every participant contends with the cold, low water temperatures, high waves, and other unexpected challenges. It’s also about starting together from the water and experiencing a sense of unity with all the participants. Pool swimming, by contrast, offers comfort and heated water.
Is Open Water Swimming Safe? How Do You Ensure the Safety of Event Participants?
The Sopot MOSiR, together with the Referees’ Committee and the Sopot Water Rescue Service (WOPR), takes every measure to ensure that all participants who start the race exit safely on the other side of the pier at the finish line. Every participant is verified at the event office, where they receive a swim cap and a chip with their race number. For better identification, the race number is also marked on the right shoulder.
Before the start, all participants gather in the start area and are admitted to the water according to the list and their start numbers. Those who are not called or who do not pass through the start gate are not allowed to participate in the race.
The race begins at noon. As is tradition, the safety of participants is overseen by the Sopot WOPR, using boats, jet skis, kayaks, and land patrols.
How Can You Prepare for Open Water Swimming and Enjoy This Form of Physical Activity?
Swimming the 1200 meters around the Sopot Pier is a challenge but also brings immense joy from completing the distance. To achieve this, preparation is necessary—practice swimming in the sea under various weather conditions. The best advice from the organizers: swim to complete the distance, for the satisfaction it brings, and don’t focus on competing with others. The time for competition comes later, after several swims and getting familiar with the specifics of open water swimming.
What distinguishes your event from other open water swimming competitions in Poland?
Despite attracting participants from across Poland, our event is characterized by its intimate atmosphere and the unity of the local swimming community in the region. It is also an excellent option for tourists visiting our city. A unique highlight is the participation of Sopot’s Mayor, Jacek Karnowski, and Deputy Mayor Magdalena Czarzyńska-Jachim, who actively encourage both residents and visitors to enjoy an active lifestyle.
Is there an open water event in the world that serves as your inspiration or model?
We don’t model our event on any other competitions organized in Poland or abroad. Instead, we draw on the unique beauty of our city and the iconic Sopot Pier. The tradition of swimming around the pier dates back to the interwar period and was revived by the Sopot Sports and Recreation Center (MOSiR) in 1999. The event is held under the patronage of the Mayor of Sopot, Jacek Karnowski. Since 2021, it has also served as a tribute to Jacek Starościak, a great promoter of swimming and winter swimming.
Every participant who completes the race receives a commemorative medal, and the top finishers are awarded prizes. The event is proudly supported by the "Ziaja" company.
-------
We invite you to participate in the series "Jacek Starościak Memorial Pier Swim Race."
Photos courtesy of MOSiR Sopot.
