Aquaman Openwater Will Hold Decades-First Swim Race Down the Nile

Decades ago, swimmers would take to the waters of the Nile to test their mettle against the waves of one of history’s most important waterways. Now, 40 years since the last major Nile swim event, open-water swimming organisation Aquaman Openwater is bringing this practice back with a major race in Aswan. On February 21st and the 22nd, hundreds of athletes will have the opportunity to race around the Philae Temple, recreating an iconic swim course.

“This isn't just a swim. It's a journey, along which participants can embrace the chance to connect with each other, history and nature through a shared love of the sport,” Cherif Fathy, CEO and founder of Aquaman Openwater, tells CairoScene. In light of the international buzz surrounding open-water swimming, Aquaman hopes to bring the trend to Egypt.

Open-water swimming has been a rising sport worldwide, due to the mental and physical benefits it offers. Great for both the body and the soul, swimming in natural bodies of water promises a unique connection with nature. The open-water swimming craze has also led to an explosion of interest in swim tourism; the Red Sea has naturally been on swimmers’ radar for a while, while Sombay, El Gouna and Dahab have hosted several swim-events over the past few years. Despite its international fame and rich history, however, the Nile has been overlooked as a swim-tourism hotspot.

Fathy, an endurance swimmer and athlete himself, tells CairoScene that Aquaman Openwater was born from a desire to realise Egypt’s potential as one of the world’s leading swim-tourism hotspots and to revive Nile-swimming. “The International Nile Swim used to be a popular annual event until around 40 years ago when it stopped and lost momentum,” Fathy tells us. Now, in 2025, Aquaman is reviving this legendary race, attracting over 500 participants from over 26 countries.

Whilst this will not be Aquaman’s debut event in Egypt, having hosted a well-attended sea-swim event in SomaBay in October 2024, Fathy emphasises that this event in the Nile will be a completely different, unique experience.

Well-aware of skepticism circulating the prospect of swimming in the Nile, Fathy and his team undertook extensive research to ensure the safety of the event, and to quash rumours regarding strong undercurrents, as well as the presence of crocodiles and pollutants in the river. The results of lab-tests on water-samples from this section of the Nile confirmed that it is clean and free of pollutants. The team also found that the water current surrounding Philae is very light, with minimal flow. Finally, the myth about crocodiles proved untrue, as surrounding dams in the river prevented any wildlife from passing through this section.

Fathy also assures that there will be many kayaks and boats circling the course in order to ensure the safety of swimmers and to pick up any stragglers. The option to tap-out at any stage of the race will therefore be available.

In line with Aquaman's mission to make open-water swimming an inclusive sport, the event offers several race distances in order to cater to all ages and abilities. The 5km and 2km races are designed for advanced, endurance-focused swimmers, whilst the Aquafins race which, as the name implies, will permit the use of aiding fins, is a less intense 1km race. The event will also offer an Aquaman Teams Race - a relay in which each participant in a three-man team will swim 500m - and a 500m Kids race.

Participants will receive guaranteed bragging rights, and a custom-made medal, designed with ancient Egypt in mind. Fathy tells CairoScene that the medal’s design will feature the Wings of Isis, (a symbol of protection and rebirth), the Eye of Horus, (representing power and healing) and the scarab Beetle (a sign of transformation and strength). The medal is designed to both remind participants of their journey through history as well as of the strength, bravery and determination intrinsic to participation in the event and to open-water swimming in general.

In addition to the splash Aquaman will be making in Aswan this February, Fathy plans to make larger waves both in Egypt and internationally in the coming years.