Rules of Marathon Swimming

  • Overview & Purpose
  • The Spirit of Marathon Swimming
  • Definitions
  • Standard Equipment
  • Nonstandard Equipment
  • Observers
  • Golden Rules of Marathon Swimming
  • Swim Rules
  • Using MSF Rules for Your Swim
  • Special Swim Types
  • Endorsements
  • End Notes

    • The Spirit of Marathon Swimming

    MSF Rules are guided by the traditions and spirit of unassisted marathon swimming.

    Marathon swimmers embrace the challenge of crossing wild, open bodies of water with minimal assistance beyond their own physical strength and mental fortitude. There are ways to make the sport easier, but marathon swimmers consciously eschew them.

    Marathon swimmers take pride that their achievements can be meaningfully compared to the achievements of previous generations, because the standard equipment of the sport has not changed significantly since 1875.