Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Special Olympics World Summer Games 2011 was the first opportunity for Special Olympics athletes to compete officially and internationally.

The 2015 event will be held in Alamitos Bay in Long Beach, California.

Andrew Smilley of the Cayman Islands won the inaugural 1.5 km event in calm, warm conditions in 22:00.77 and will be in Long Beach in order to defend his title.

Photos are from the 2011 event in the Bay of Marathon in Greece.

Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association