Sun Moon Lake hosts 44th International Marathon Swimming event

The 44th Sun Moon Lake International Marathon Swimming event took place on September 20, attracting 21,700 participants. The event featured swimmers from 38 different countries, including representatives from the United States, Japan, Germany, Australia, France, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada.

To enhance safety, organizers implemented a new “real-name dual-chip” system. Swimmers are required to wear one chip on their wrists and attach another to their flotation boards, allowing for real-time tracking and more efficient location identification in case of emergencies. Participants must scan these chips both when entering and exiting the water.

In the competition, 43-year-old Spanish swimmer Zhao Weixin recorded the fastest time, completing the nearly 3-kilometer course in 56 minutes and 27 seconds. Among the participants with disabilities, Chang Wei-chieh from Taipei was the first to finish.

Nantou County Magistrate Xu Shu-hua opened the event by releasing 10,000 fish fry into the lake to promote ecological sustainability. For the first time, organizers also introduced commemorative medals for finishers to supplement the traditional certificates.