Israel's Open Water Swimming League Returns for Major Autumn Series
Translated & summarized from Sport5 by baba
Israel's Open Water Swimming League is holding a three-event autumn series in cooperation with the Israel Swimming Association. The series includes the Port2Port Tel Aviv swim on October 30th, the Yitzhak (Kushi) Afgin Memorial Swim in Hadera on November 13th, and the Emek Hefer Aqua-athlon on November 20th. These events are recognized as official competitions for registered swimmers.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel's Open Water Swimming League is partnering with the Israel Swimming Association for its autumn series.
- The Port2Port Tel Aviv swim on October 30th is Israel's largest competitive swimming event.
- The Yitzhak (Kushi) Afgin Memorial Swim will take place in Hadera on November 13th.
- The Emek Hefer Aqua-athlon on November 20th combines swimming and running.
- The Port2Port swim offers cash prizes for the top finishers in its longest distance.
- The Emek Hefer Aqua-athlon honors fallen soldier and triathlete Ben Zion Pelach.
Israel's Mediterranean coast is offering ideal conditions for open water swimming enthusiasts as the summer heat subsides and jellyfish disappear. The Shweng Open Water Swimming League is officially partnering with the Israel Swimming Association this season, with its events recognized as official competitions for registered swimmers and counting towards their annual four-event requirement. The league has organized a concentrated series of three events over three weekends in October and November.
The series kicks off with the Port2Port Tel Aviv swim on October 30th, a significant event connecting the Tel Aviv and Jaffa ports along the coastline. This race is considered Israel's largest competitive swimming event and also serves as the Maccabi Israel Open Water Championship. It attracts hundreds of swimmers, with cash prizes of NIS 1,000, NIS 500, and NIS 250 for the top three finishers in the long-distance category.
Following this is the Yitzhak (Kushi) Afgin Memorial Swim at Olga Beach in Hadera on November 13th. This race, which was postponed from its original date due to challenging sea conditions, honors the legacy of the educator and athlete Yitzhak (Kushi) Afgin. The event features four categories, ranging from a 600-meter fun/children's race to a 4.3-kilometer challenge for elite swimmers.
The season concludes with the Emek Hefer Aqua-athlon on November 20th at Beit Yanai beach. This event combines open water swimming with beach running, offering various swimming distances and aqua-athlon races. The aqua-athlon is dedicated to the memory of former triathlete Captain Ben Zion Pelach, who fell in battle in Southern Lebanon. The combination of nature, community atmosphere, and the option to combine running and swimming makes this a unique end-of-season experience for endurance athletes.