Governance
Board, Advisory Board & Academy
The WOWSA Awards combine transparent governance, informed review and participation from people previously recognized by the Awards.
The Board of Directors oversees the integrity of the process. The WOWSA Advisory Board reviews eligible nominations and selects the finalists. The WOWSA Awards Academy evaluates those finalists alongside the public vote.
- 01
Public nominations
- 02
Advisory Board review
- 03
Academy and public voting
- 04
Board ratification
Foundational document
The WOWSA Charter
Adopted 2026
The WOWSA Charter defines the organization’s purpose, authority and principles of operation. It provides the reference point for WOWSA policies, programs, verification processes, recognitions and governance decisions.
Purpose
The World Open Water Swimming Association exists to provide an independent, global body that supports safety, integrity and fairness in open water swimming. WOWSA establishes and maintains principles that guide safety practice, verification, governance and the responsible recognition of open water swimming activities and achievements.
Our values
- 01
Safety
A collective responsibility for swimmer safety comes before all other considerations.
- 02
Integrity
Decisions are made independently, transparently and without bias or external influence.
- 03
Respect
All participants, ability levels and environments are treated with fairness and dignity, recognizing that every body of water and community is unique.
- 04
Continuous Learning
WOWSA values experience, evidence and reflection as the foundation for continuous improvement.
- 05
Adaptability
Good practice adapts to conditions and context. There is no single right way, only the continuing responsibility to learn and share what works.
- 06
Stewardship
The natural environments that sustain open water swimming are to be protected and used responsibly for future generations.
WOWSA Charter
Scope and Authority
This Charter is the foundational document governing WOWSA’s purpose, authority and principles of operation. All WOWSA policies, guidance, programs, certifications, verification processes and recognitions are developed and applied in accordance with this Charter.
Core Commitments
- Promoting swimmer safety through principled guidance, shared learning and evidence-informed practice
- Maintaining transparent, consistent and credible verification processes for marathon swims
- Acting independently and without commercial, promotional or personal bias
- Supporting fair and responsible recognition of open water swimming achievements
Principles of Operation
In carrying out its functions, WOWSA acts:
- Independently, free from conflicts of interest
- Consistently, applying principles uniformly across individuals, events and jurisdictions
- Transparently, documenting decisions and their rationale
Collaboration and Shared Learning
WOWSA recognizes that open water swimming occurs in dynamic and uncontrolled environments and that safety and integrity depend on collective experience and shared learning. WOWSA therefore engages collaboratively with swimmers, organizers, researchers, public authorities and other stakeholders where such engagement supports safety, fairness and the long-term health of the sport.
Governance and Accountability
This Charter provides the reference point against which WOWSA’s actions, policies and decisions may be assessed. The Charter may be reviewed or amended only in accordance with WOWSA’s established governance processes.
Putting the Charter into practice
WOWSA’s governance bodies have distinct responsibilities within the Awards process. Together, they provide organizational oversight, informed finalist review and participation from people previously recognized by the Awards.
Governance
Board of Directors
The WOWSA Board of Directors is responsible for the governance of the organization and for confirming that the published awards process has been followed.
Board ratification is a governance review. It is not an additional judging round, and it does not independently verify or re-ratify the achievements submitted through the nomination process.
Finalist selection
WOWSA Advisory Board
The WOWSA Advisory Board reviews eligible nominations against the published criteria and selects five finalists in each award category.
Members are expected to disclose relevant personal, professional, financial, coaching, organizational or competitive conflicts. Where impartiality could reasonably be questioned, the member must withdraw from the applicable review.
For the Awards, WOWSA’s Advisory Board does not ratify swims or replace recognition provided by governing bodies, associations, event organizers or other credible third parties.
Past finalists
WOWSA Awards Academy
The WOWSA Awards Academy is composed of past finalists from across the history of the Awards.
Academy members evaluate the current finalists alongside the public vote under the methodology published for that awards cycle. Inclusion in the Academy recognizes a person’s previous selection as a finalist; it does not imply that the person participates in every annual vote.