The date for annual swim marathon through Lake Balaton has been set to 5 July, Hungarian news agency MTI reports. If weather permits, contenders will swim the 5200 meter distance between Révfülöp and Balatonboglár for the 32th time. The competition starts from the Révfülöp pier at 8 am as organizers await thousands of amateurs swimmers for one of Central Europe’s biggest open water swimming contest.
At a press event for the Pek-Snack Balaton Átúszás (Pek-Snack Balaton Cross-swimming) organizers confirmed that registration for the competition will be held at Révfülöp football pitch between 7 am and 1.30 pm. Organizers also addressed questions regarding the recent illnesses at the Hungarian Swimmers’ Day, held in Balatonfüred, causing concern regarding the Balaton’s water quality. Official investigation has since confirmed that the water is clear as ever and the small number of illnesses came from other sources.
Organizers expect big turnout as former World Champion, European champion and Olympic bronze medalist boxer Zsolt Erdei will also be among the contenders. Last year representatives from 35 countries joined the Lake Balaton swim marathon as close to 8000 swimmers completed the challenge.
Photo: János Kele