A birthday swim is a special swim or workout set performed on one’s birthday by swimmers, either in a pool or an open body of water. The birthday swims are typically difficult, long and/or unique, and often based on the same number as the age of the swimmer celebrating his or her birthday.

For example in the pool, pods of adult swimmers do the same number of 100-yard or 100-meter swims as the age of the swimmer celebrating a birthday. In Seal Beach, California, one dedicated 80-something man has kept up this tradition for decades.

Others do long swims in the ocean or have their own birthday traditions with their teammates and friends.

Photo shows the Oak Streakers in Laguna Beach, California that frequently does themed birthday swims year-round in their Southern California ocean home base.

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