8th Open European Down Syndrome Swimming & Artistic Championships

The XXXV Travessia dos Templários is an open water swimming event taking place on September 28, 2025, at Praia Fluvial de Vila Nova da Serra in Tomar, Portugal. The race offers three distances: 400 meters and 1500 meters as promotional events, and a 5000 meters official competition, which is part of the XVIII Circuito Nacional de Águas Abertas 2025.

The event welcomes both licensed and non-licensed swimmers for the 400m and 1500m distances, while the 5000m official race is open to swimmers with a license from the Portuguese Swimming Federation or recognized international federations. The course features approximately rectangular routes in a natural water setting, with the 5000m race requiring three laps of a 1650m loop.

This race combines competitive spirit with a festive atmosphere, offering participants a chance to compete individually or as teams, with categories for various age groups including Masters and youth. The event emphasizes safety and organization, supported by multiple boats and medical assistance, making it suitable for swimmers seeking both challenge and community engagement.

The Ricardo Pedroso Crossing is an open water swimming event held on September 21 in Mértola, Portugal. It offers three distances: 500 meters, 1000 meters, and 1500 meters, catering to a wide range of swimmers including federated and non-federated athletes, triathletes, Olympians, and Paralympians.

The event is open to all swimmers, featuring participation from top national teams such as Sporting Clube de Portugal and Clube de Futebol os Belenenses, making it a highly competitive and prestigious race. Its partnership with the Mértola Municipality since 2019 highlights its strong community and local support.

The race takes place in the scenic Tapada Grande da Mina de S. Domingos area, providing a unique natural backdrop for competitors. The atmosphere combines competitive spirit with a sense of camaraderie among swimmers of all levels, including elite athletes and enthusiastic amateurs.

The Madeira Island Ultra Swim 2025 is an open water swimming event taking place on September 20 and 21, 2025, in Funchal, Madeira. This event features a variety of distances, including 0.5K, 1.5K, 3.5K, 5K, 10K, and a challenging 20K ultra swim.

The competition is open to all swimmers, including elite athletes and masters, and welcomes participants of all nationalities. The 20K ultra swim distance requires special conditions for participation and is limited to a small number of participants by invitation only.

The race courses offer stunning oceanic landscapes around Madeira Island, starting and finishing at iconic locations such as Cais da Cidade and Ponta de Sol, providing a unique experience in natural sea waters. The event atmosphere is competitive but inclusive, with categories for various age groups and the possibility for extra-competition participation.

The Douro Bridges Porto & Gaia Open Water 2025 is an open water swimming race scheduled for September 14, 2025, along the Douro River in the municipalities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. The event consists of a single distance of approximately 4,000 meters.

This competition is part of the XVIII National Open Water Circuit 2024-2025 and is open exclusively to licensed athletes affiliated with Open Water or Triathlon disciplines under the Portuguese Swimming Federation, Portuguese Triathlon Federation, or affiliated international federations. Extracompetition swimmers with valid licenses can also participate by invitation, subject to approval.

The race course runs from the Ribeira area in Porto, near the Luís I Bridge, downstream to a floating finish line at the beach next to the Douro Marina in Vila Nova de Gaia. The event offers a vibrant competitive atmosphere, supported by local authorities and sports organizations, with a strong safety and logistical framework ensuring a professional race experience.