Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.
China’s swimwear company Hosa is one of China’s 500 most valuable brands and is one of the largest indoor sportswear brands in China, selling swimwear, fitness wear, sports underwear and accessories.
Hosa has always promoted an enjoyable and healthy lifestyle through its products, brands and 1,356 retail outlets throughout China. It is now making major moves into the open water swimming world.
Founded in 1996 by Shi Hongliu in Wanchai, Hong Kong, Hosa was steadily grown and is now expanding internationally.
Hosa signed a 3-year exclusive deal with FINA to become the first title sponsor of the leading professional marathon swimming circuit in the world, now named the FINA/HOSA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup in the 2015-2017 period.
“China is a very significant partner for FINA and we are naturally satisfied to establish this partnership with Hosa, a solid swimwear company in this important market,” said FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione. “Since the entry in the Olympic programme, our Marathon Swimming circuit has grown in importance and this agreement proves that our 10 km World Cup is an attractive competition, contested by the best in the world.”
“The essence of the sport of 10 km marathon swimming is that human being keeps pursuing and challenging the extreme in the water. Athletes swim and compete in the world’s most amazing natural water bodies by virtue of their techniques and endurance,” commented Chairman Shi Hongliu. “As a professional manufacturer of swimwear and swim equipment, Hosa is delighted to provide the most professional services for FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup and to support the best performances of the athletes.”
FINA and Hosa announced the 2015 schedule for their 11-race FINA/HOSA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup circuit with new races in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Balatonfured in Hungary and New Caledonia in France:
Race #1 on February 7th: Patagones-Viedma, Argentina (Maraton Patagones-Viedma International Open Water Swim)
Race #2 on March 13th: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Race #3 on April 18th: New Caledonia, France
Race #4 on May 2nd: Cancún, Mexico
Race #5 on June 20th: Balatonfured, Hungary
Race #6 on June 27th: Setúbal Bay, Portugal
Race #7 on July 23rd: Lac St-Jean, Canada (part of the Traversée internationale du Lac St-Jean)
Race #8 on July 31st: Lac Memphrémagog, Canada (part of the Traversée Internationale du lac Memphrémagog)
Race #9 on August 8th: Lac Mégantic, Canada (part of the Traversée internationale du Lac Mégantic)
Race #10 on October 12th: Chun’an, China (Qiandao Lake that means Thousand Island Lake)
Race #11 on October 17th: Hong Kong
Photo above is from the King and Queen of the Sea (Rei e Rainha do Mar) in Brazil that shows the two 2014 FINA 10K Marathon Swimming World Cup overall series winners from Brazil, Allan do Carmo and Ana Marcela Cunha, both from Bahai and recipients of the FINA World Open Water Swimming Man/Woman of the Year.
Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association