The Maldives has officially launched the 2026 OCEANMAN open-water swimming competition in Maafushi, setting a new national record for international athletic participation. The event, which brings together 532 swimmers from 40…
The Maldives has officially launched the 2026 OCEANMAN open-water swimming competition in Maafushi, setting a new national record for international athletic participation. The event, which brings together 532 swimmers from 40 different nations, has been formally recognized by the Maldives Book of Records for hosting the largest foreign contingent of any sporting event in the country to date. Indian athletes comprise the largest international group, while the remainder of the field is balanced by local competitors.
Organized by Swim Maldives, the three-day event features a variety of race distances, including a 10-kilometer endurance challenge that stands as the longest competitive swim ever held in the archipelago. During the opening ceremony, Minister of Sports, Fitness, and Recreation Abdulla Rafiu emphasized that the championship serves as a strategic initiative to elevate the nation’s status as a premier global destination for sports tourism.
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Reported by Visit Maldives
Curated by the Resortlife editorial team from publicly reported sources. Image courtesy of Visit Maldives.
