Before the elite athletes like Trent Grimsey (Australia), Valerio Cleri (Italy), Chad Ho (South Africa), Alexander Studzinski (Germany), Allan do Carmo (Brazil) and Guillermo Bertola (Argentina) competed, thousands of amateurs took part in the Rei e Rainha Do Mar (King and Queen of the Sea) on Copacabana Beach. The participants included more than a few couples; many of the long-married duos swimming stroke-for-stroke, smiling and finishing the swim with a hand-holding run up the beach.

Photo courtesy of Effect Sport.

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