COPACABANA BEACH, Brazil. Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach is one of the most famous beach fronts stretches in the world – and the wonderful site for the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The 3.5K Travessia dos Fortes is one of the world’s most well-organized mass swims – that goes along the Rio Olympic 10K course, a real treat for non-Olympic swimmers.

Travessia dos Fortes is held on April 4th and stretches from one end of Copacabana Beach to the other in front of tens of thousands of fans and beachgoers.

Because the race goes along a resort-lined seashore, it reminds us of other famous open water swims like the Waikiki Roughwater Swim and the Acapulco International 5K Swim.

Since being started in 2002, the Travessia dos Fortes has boomed in popularity and is now limited to 2,500 swimmers which usually takes less than 48 hours to fill.

All of Brazil’s open water swimming superstars will participate: Poliana Okimoto, Ana Marcela Cunha and Allan do Carmo – all of whom got their start in the Travessia dos Fortes. Poliana and Allan are the defending champions where everyone gives an Olympian effort.

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