Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Nearly 4,000 participants took part in the King and Queen of the Sea (Rei e Rainha do Mar) on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro today. There were so many human interest stories to be told and sights to behold.

The photo above shows the start of the women’s 2 km Classic.

And the start of the men’s race. Elite athletes like Thomas Lurz of Germany competed in the 1 km Sprint Race, the 2 km Classic Race, and the 4 km Challenge event.

The starting line-up on the beach behind the squadron of volunteers.

Disabled swimmers from all over took up their own challenges in all distances.

Athletes including visiting Americans Chip Peterson and Stephanie Peacock, hamming it up for the television cameras.

And close races in every event including the grid race.

Copyright © 2014 by World Open Water Swimming Association