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Long distance swimming (also known as marathon swimming) is a form of open water swimming that involves swimming across large bodies of open water such as the Great Lakes, the Atlantic Ocean, and the English Channel.

The swims can be in the open sea, ocean, lakes, rivers or other watercourses.

There are organized long distance swimming competitions around the world, but there are also many athletes that swim solo. The swims are accompanied by a nearby boat crew that monitors and coaches the swimmer.

Marathon swimming is an endurance sport that pits a lone swimmer against all that a body of water can offer. According to International Swimming Federation rules, swimmers cannot use wet suits. Wet suits provide extra buoyancy that can lead to artificially increased speed, or apparent endurance, of the person wearing the suit. Even in the frigid waters of the English Channel, the marathon swimming governing bodies refuse to recognise or monitor swims involving the use of wet suits. American swimmer Ted Erikson, who swam the second two-way crossing of the English Channel in 1965, likens wearing a wet suit in a marathon swim to completing the Tour de France on a moped.

The Netherlands has a rich tradition in these races, which are know in Dutch as langebaanzwemmen (literally "long lane swimming") . As of 2004, some have been organised continuously for over 50 years. Many Dutch competitors have also achieved prestige in the international arena, such as Herman Willemse, Judith de Nijs, Lenie de Nijs, Joke van Staveren, Monique Wildschut, Irene van der Laan, Hans van Goor and Edith van Dijk.

In the Netherlands, there are three categories of langebaanzwemmen:

• Prestatietochten (lit. "achievement-tour"): distances over 250 m for all categories (inclusive of participants without a racing permit).
• Lange afstandzwemmen (lit. "long distance swimming): distances up to 10 km. This category includes open water events. In this category there are the Open Nationale Kampioenschappen in 5 km and 10 km freestyle, with separate events for professionals and amateurs, and a 3 km freestyle for juniors and seniors.
• Marathonzwemmen (lit. "marathon swimming"): distances over 10 km. The Nationale Kampioenschap (national championship) in this category is a joint venture with neighbouring Belgium.

Most events are in the long distance category, with around 25 in the Netherlands. An approximately equal number are organised in Flanders in Belgium. The waterways of the Low Countries, therefore, are some of the busiest in open water swimming in the world.

Further information: Category:Long distance swimmers

The first person to swim in all five oceans (Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, Southern, Pacific) is Lewis Gordon Pugh, who also holds the record for longest cold water swim.

• Open water swimming

• Swimmers around the world

Some organizations that regulate and organize the sport:

• British Long Distance Swimming Association
• United States Masters Swimming
• Solo Swims Ontario
• Netherlands
• various links