Rules & Regulations
Marathon Swimming Australia exists to uphold the integrity, safety and recognition of marathon swimming in Australia. Clear rules and standards ensure that every swim is fairly assessed, safely conducted and meaningfully recognised , now and into the futur
Marathon Swimming Australia recognises the Rules and Regulations of the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA), ensuring that all marathon swims in Australia meet the highest international standards of fairness, safety, and integrity.
These guidelines outline the standard rules, regulations, and protocols that govern open water racing events, marathon solo swims, and relays.
Marathon Swimming Australia adopts the WOWSA Rules and Regulations, save for references to other entities that may record swims as MSA maintains its own records. However, MSA may in its absolute discretion ratify and certify swims that differ from the descriptions used in the WOWSA rules where the circumstances and context require modification.
What Is a Marathon Swim?
In Australia, a marathon swim is defined as an open water swim of 10 kilometres or more, completed without artificial assistance, and conducted in accordance with recognised marathon swimming standards.
Marathon swims may take place in oceans, rivers, bays or lakes and may be undertaken as:
Solo swims, independently planned and observed, or
Event swims, conducted as part of an organised event or crossing.
Core Marathon Swimming Principles
All swims recognised by Marathon Swimming Australia are guided by the following principles:
Unassisted swimming: The swimmer must not receive physical assistance that provides forward propulsion or buoyancy.
Continuous effort: The swim must be continuous from start to finish, aside from brief pauses for feeding or safety checks.
Independent oversight: Solo swims must be observed by an independent observer who verifies compliance.
Transparency and documentation: Accurate records of time, conditions and route are essential to preserve integrity and history.
These principles protect swimmers, ensure fairness, and allow meaningful comparison across generations.
Solo Swims – Standards Overview
Solo marathon swims seeking ratification by MSA must:
meet the minimum distance requirement (10km or more)
be completed unassisted
be independently observed
comply with recognised marathon swimming rules and equipment standards
be supported by appropriate safety and logistical planning
Solo swims are assessed individually and ratified through MSA’s formal submission process.
Event Swims – Standards Overview
Organised events seeking recognition within the Australian Long Swims Database must:
operate under recognised marathon swimming rules
demonstrate appropriate safety and officiating standards
provide clear and verifiable results
submit documentation confirming compliance
Event swims are reviewed for eligibility and inclusion, not individual ratification.
Assisted vs Unassisted Swims
MSA ratifies unassisted marathon swims only.
Swims that involve performance-enhancing assistance (such as flotation, physical support, or propulsion aids) may still be acknowledged, but they are not eligible for official ratification or records.
This distinction exists to protect the integrity of recognised achievements.