ÖTILLÖ World Championship Records Crushed
On a beautiful day on the coast of Sweden several teams crushed course records at the 2022 ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championships. Until 2016 the magic barrier in this event was 8 hours, and was broken then. The men's new record is now 7:00:59, 38 minutes faster than the previous best time, and while the runner up men were pretty fast too, they were almost 42 minutes behind. The mixed division winning team was 25 minutes faster than the previous record in a time 7:49:54, and the female team record is now 8:35:56 – 21 minutes better than before. This was also a year with the most Americans at the start to date, and they did well too. All in all 16 Americans were at the start with Marcus Barton and Kawika Tarayao the top US team in 16th place overall and 10th in the male division.
The Swedish/French team Max Andersson and Hugo Tormento smoked the course in 7:00:59 narrowly missing the previous unthinkable 7 hour barrier.
At 6am with the town of Sandhamn still sleepy, athletes from all over the world started that magical journey of 70km across the Stockholm Archipelago.
After all the anticipation and preparation leading up to this event, it finally gets very real when you enter the first swim.
The first swim is also where you are closest to all your competitors, but typically it is reasonably civil.
Ulrika Eriksson (SWE) and Helena Sivertsson (SWE) of Team Stena Recycling took the lead early and then did not look back, winning their division with a 25 minute margin.
The battle in the mixed category was tight during the first 50km of the race. Desirée Andersson and Alexander Berggren battled Amanda Nilsson and Adriel Young and only during the long run on Ornö was there finally a separation.
Max Andersson and Hugo Tormento of team ARK Swimrun flew away to a record crushing win despite Hugo Tormento only having one of his paddles, and eventually none.
Bronwen Price-Dierksen with husband Gregory Dierksen of team Boston Wet Sox on the way to 6th place in the mixed division and 20th place overall.
The swims really vary quite a bit during this race and are as short as 50 meters and as long as 1600 meters, with most swims in the 200 to 500 meter range.
Also some entrances are easier than others. But athletes are required to go in feet first even when a dive seems possible more efficient. Since it is not always clear what lurks below, the rule is feet first.
The sport of Swimrun is really nothing like a triathlon and certainly not a triathlon without a bike, but is a quite attractive sport for triathletes. Most folks who have experienced it would liken it more to adventure racing.
An excellent view from above as several teams are crossing this small island.
Through the woods and towards the next swim. Interestingly on this team as on many others – Adidas Terrex shoes.
Fully focused with the tether very tight Alexis Charrier and Sabina Rapelli of team Envol-Head-Zoggs on the way to 3rd place in the mixed division.
If it were easy everyone would be doing it. But when you are in you best keep moving.
It was unthinkable for a mixed team to go sub-8 hours, that number was out of reach for male teams until just a few years back. But Desirée Andersson and Alexander Berggren of Team Desi och Alex managed that and then some.
Team Töulöuse with Sandrine Bouvier and Jessy Hamel hung in tough to finish in 13:51:19.
Meanwhile the happy winning female team of Ulrika Eriksson and Helena Sivertsson celebrated their win in style.
Top 3 results ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship 2022
Male Teams
1. Max Andersson (SWE) and Hugo Tormento (FRA) ARK Swimrun, 07:00:59
2. Maxime Picaud and William Even, Team Shark BZH HEAD, 7:42:47
3. Kenny Meijer (SWE) and Lars Ekman (SWE), Ark Swimrun, 7:48:38
Mixed teams
1. Desirée Andersson (SWE) and Alexander Berggren (SWE), Team Desi och Alex, 7:49:54
2. Amanda Nilsson (SWE) and Adriel Young (AUS), A.A.ARK, 7:59:10
3. Sabina Rapelli (CH) and Alexis Charrier (FRA), Team Envol Head Zoggs, 8:08:39
Female Teams
1. Ulrika Eriksson (SWE) and Helena Sivertsson (SWE), Team Stena Recycling, 8:35:56
2. Evelina Järvinen (SWE) and Therese Bergling (SWE), Wild Westcoast, 8:50:20
3. Aline Tavernier (FRA) and Julia Moustakir (FRA), Team Aline et Julia, 9:08:39
All images © Jean-Marie Gueye / ÖTILLÖ and Pierre Mangez / ÖTILLÖ.
