
New 84km distance confirmed for Sweden’s longest swim race
This August, swimming buddies Helén Runger and Niclas Renman will swim the length of Lake Vidöstern (21.5km) four times in a row – a total distance of 84km
On 1 April 2023, Vidösternsimmet, Sweden’s longest swim race, announced a new Double Viking 84km distance through a social media post. Many of the event’s followers immediately thought it to be an April Fool’s joke, thinking a swim race of 84km simply wasn’t feasible.
The post, however, planted a seed of thought among some of Vidösternsimmet’s most experienced participants, who contacted the organisation behind the event to see if it might still be possible to arrange a swim race of this extreme ultra-distance. After some negotiations and a lot of risk assessments, the organisers have now made the event official. The first 84km event in August 2025 will be an invitation-only event with two swimmers.
Swimmers with a lot of experience
Helén Runger, 44, and Niclas Renman, 58, (pictured below) are the duo invited to undertake this event. These training buddies have a long list of epic challenges they have swum together over the past eight years. Both have a background as competitive swimmers in their youth, followed by a long break. In 2017, they both resumed swimming in the pool in the Masters group and later began swimming in open water. Together, they have covered many kilometres in pools, lakes, and seas, both in Sweden and abroad.

These include:
- Menorca Marathon 25 km, non-wetsuit, 2019
- Vidösternsimmet +21 km, 2019 and 2024
- Vidösternsimmet +42 km Viking, 2021 and 2023
- Vansbro 10K, 2023 and 2024
- Around Onsala Peninsula (own event) 22 km, 2024
“I contacted Vidösternsimmet in May 2024 to see if we could make their crazy idea a reality,” says Helén. “Swimming long distances is fantastic fun, and doing it with your training buddy makes it even more enjoyable.
Niclas adds, “We will be swimming for over 30 hours.”
Swimming for children’s wellbeing
This year Vidösternsimmet is fundraising for BRIS, Children’s Rights in Society.
“We at BRIS are very happy and grateful for this commitment and initiative,” says Emma Nilsson, BRIS Öst Regional Representative.
Vidösternsimmet has fundraised for various good causes for several years. In 2024, the event generated nearly 100,000 SEK (over £7,000), which was divided between the Childhood Cancer Foundation, the Breast Cancer Foundation and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

The organisers say they chose BRIS as this year’s beneficiary mainly because Helén and Niclas have mentioned frequently that regular swim training promotes mental well-being.
The most common reason children contact BRIS is mental health issues. “One might think you’re not quite sane if you choose to take on the Vidösternsimmet Double Viking, but without swim training, I definitely wouldn’t feel well. Moving and experiencing weightlessness in the water makes you feel really good,” concludes Helén.
Helen and Niclas’ undertaking of Vidösternsimmet’s +84 km Double Viking will take place on the
morning of Friday 8 August from Sundet, Vittaryd at the southern end of Lake Vidöstern.
We wish them luck!
Other swim races taking place at Vidösternsimmet
+42 km: Sweden’s longest swim race 2021-2024
On the evening of Saturday 9 August 2025, at least 15 open water swimmers will embark on the extreme ultra-challenge Vidösternsimmet Viking. The length of the swim, +42 km, is achieved by swimming the entire length of Lake Vidöstern twice. In groups of two or three and guided by kayaks, the participants will swim through the darkness of night, first northwards from Sundet in Vittaryd. By dawn, they will arrive at the Osudden beach at the northern end of the lake. There, they will turn around at 07:00, simultaneously with the start of Vidösternsimmet’s classic +21 km distance. Sweden’s longest and toughest swim race, with the Viking, is one of the 10 longest swim races in the world!

+21 km: 52 swimmers registered – and more to come!
On 9 August, the 14th edition of Vidösternsimmet +21 km will take place. Over 100 swimmers are expected to be at the starting line at Osudden beach at around 07:00. The swimmers undertaking this challenge will spend between five and 10 hours in the lake’s water, making their way from Värnamo to the neighbouring municipality of Ljungby.
+6 km: the sprint race
In addition to the long distances, there is also the +6 km challenge, starting from Toftaholm Manor at 14:00. Most open water swim races organised are around 3km, and it can be difficult to go directly from such a distance to the classic challenge. “The six-kilometre race is perfect as a first step towards participating in longer swim races,” says Christer, Ringblom, one of the organisers of Vidösternsimmet.
+500 m: LiLLa Vidösternsimmet and Öppetvattenlyftet (OWS Initiativ)
Those who have not previously swum in open water can take part in the LiLLa Vidösternsimmet +500m event, which starts and finishes in Sundet, Vittaryd. The 40 swim clubs of the East Swedish Swimming Federation are invited to participate for free through the Open Water Lift initiative.
Find out more about Vidosternsimmet at vidosternsimmet.com

