Ballot for Marathon Swims 2024

The ballot for places in the 2024 edition of Marathon Swims opens on 29 February and runs until 2 April. Those successful will be told on 4 April.

Marathon Swims is a 10km swimming challenge that takes place at the London Aquatics Centre on Saturday 9 November. The swim takes place in the same 50m pool that was used in the 2012 London Olympics. Starting in Lane 1, participants complete two lengths before ducking into Lane 2 for the next two lengths, and then into Lane 3 and so on. After completing their 20^th length in Lane 10 (which is a kilometre) they exit the pool, walk back to the start and repeat. Ten times.

For anyone wondering if they can complete the marathon distance of swimming, this is a great way to try. And if you’re not sure about the full distance, you can swim a single kilometre, 5km or do the full distance as a relay.

Places on the 10km swim always sell out and are now awarded through a ballot. Alternatively, you can enter via a charity slot and raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society. Last year, the event raised more than £100,000 for the charity, some which the founder and event director Diccon Loy is very proud of.

“This event is doing exactly what we want it to do. We’ve reinvented the marathon swim for the pool and created an authentic sporting challenge while raising a significant sum for charity,” he says.

Marathon Swims started in 2017. This year is the 6^th edition, after a pause in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic.

If you like the concept but can’t make the date, Marathon Swims also offer a free virtual edition, which runs through November.

Find out more: https://www.marathonswims.com/