ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Malta

ÖTILLÖ Swimrun is Back in Malta After 2 Years

Press Release / 02.11.2021

2021 has been a year still under the grip of the Pandemic. ÖTILLÖ did not start the season until mid- June and have since then put on four World Series race weekends and one World Championship weekend. ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Malta will be the fifth and last World Series weekend of the year. The race weekend concludes the 16th year of ÖTILLÖ Swimrun races.

"Throughout the season we have done what we can to adjust to the local regulations to be able to put on events. The 2021 season has for sure been a Covid season with some light on the horizon. Hopefully, 2022 will bring something different" - Says Mats Skott, co - founder of ÖTILLÖ Swimrun.

In November 2019 the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series finished the season on Malta with more than 600 racers. After a lost year ÖTILLÖ will be back on November 6 & 7 to finish the season again.

"Malta is perfectly suited for Swimrun. Our coastal trail runs are technical and spectacular and our sea is beautiful and swimmable all year round. Further to this having an ÖTILLÖ World Series event in Malta is an excellent opportunity to promote our islands with the ever growing Swimrun community worldwide" says Jonathan Shaw, local coordinator for ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Malta.

THE RACE WEEKEND

This second edition of the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series finals on Malta will be modified compared to 2019 to fit the local covid-19 regulations. However, the races will celebrate outdoor sports and the beauty of the location.

Throughout history the beautiful island of Malta has set the stage for many cultures. After 2019 it has become a dream location for Swimrunners.

For this last race weekend of the year we see several of the best teams in the world signed up together with Swimrun enthusiasts from near and far. This is the most prestigious Swimrun race in Malta.

Adriel Young (AUS), current Men's World Champion will be teaming up with French Powerhouse, Hugo Tormento. We will also see Victor Dahl (SWE), current Mixed World Champion teaming up with Alexis Charrier (FRA) who was part of the runner- up team in the World Championship in the mixed category. Within the Women's category we will see many top women with Ulrika Eriksson & Marika Wagner (SWE) as likely favorites. They won the World Series race in Engadin in July. In the Mixed category the American team that wins everything on the US Swimrun circuit will act as favorites. Gregory Dierksen & Bronwen Price - Dierksen are going for the win and the direct qualification to the 2022 World Championship.

"We are very excited to show all the teams the beauty and the rugged coast of Malta. It will be a high- speed sightseeing trip" - says Race Director Johanna Edin.

For some it is for the adventure, for some it is for the experience, for some it is to race hard and for some it is to qualify to ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship 2022.

RACE FORMATS

All races will start and finish on the Golden Bay beach.

On Saturday, November 6th ÖTILLÖ will host several shorter races to make the sport accessible to more people and to let newcomers experience the beauty of Swimrun on Malta.

The EXPERIENCE distance is 7,4 km with 3 swim sections totaling 1200 metres.

The SPRINT eludes to the distance and not to the speed. It is a total of 12,8 km with 5 swim sections totaling 2500 metres.

On Sunday, November 7th, ÖTILLÖ will have the WORLD SERIES event which acts as a qualifier to the World Championship and where teams can collect ranking points. It is the last race of the year and also the finals of the 2021 World Series. The race is a total of 39 km with 14 swim sections totalling 7,450 metres. This race is the most prestigious event in Malta.

All race distances are open for all and can be done in teams of two or as solo racers.