01
Marathon Swimmer of the Year
Recognizes a swimmer who delivered an outstanding marathon swimming achievement during the 2026 calendar year.
The awards
Four categories, one standard of excellence
Every category has published eligibility criteria and a clear list of what a nomination must provide. Nominations are assessed on merit, not on volume.
02
Pioneer Swimmer of the Year
Recognizes a swimmer whose credible and verifiable swim or expedition established a genuinely new open water challenge.
03
Para Open Water Swimmer of the Year
Recognizes a swimmer with an eligible impairment who excelled in open water swimming during the 2026 calendar year.
04
Community Impact Award
Recognizes a person, organization, club, event or initiative whose work created significant and lasting positive change in how people access, experience or engage with open water swimming.
How it works
Recognition built on a transparent process
Nominations are reviewed by an independent Advisory Board, the global community votes publicly, a Voting Academy of past winners and finalists casts weighted ballots, and the WOWSA Board formally ratifies every result.
- I
Eligibility Review
WOWSA checks every nomination against the published category rules, eligibility period and supporting evidence.
- II
Advisory Board
An independent Advisory Board assesses eligible nominations and selects the finalists in each category.
- III
Public and Academy Voting
The global community votes publicly while a Voting Academy of past winners and finalists casts weighted ballots.
- IV
Board Ratification
The WOWSA Board formally ratifies every result before it becomes part of the permanent public record.
Advisory Board, Voting Academy and WOWSA Board members must disclose relevant conflicts of interest and withdraw from decisions where impartiality could reasonably be questioned.
Nominations are open
Found the right category?
Open the nomination form and put the case on the record. It takes about ten minutes.