Record number of swimmers ready for the 20th anniversary of TrygFonden Copenhagen Swim

Enthusiasm for open-water swimming and TrygFonden Copenhagen Swim is greater than ever before, and with almost all start numbers sold, this year’s event sets a new participant record with more than 5,830 participants – several hundred more than last year’s record.

“It is absolutely fantastic to experience the support for TrygFonden Copenhagen Swim. We have never had this many participants before, and the fact that we can also announce that the event is completely sold out says a great deal about the kind of swimming experience the event has developed into for swim-loving Danes and international open-water swimmers. We are incredibly excited to fill Copenhagen’s canals with almost 6,000 swimmers,” says Allan Nyhus, CEO of SvømDanmark.

20 years since the first swim around the Danish Parliament

This year’s participant record comes in a very special year. It is 20 years since TrygFonden Copenhagen Swim was first held in 2006, when 260 swimmers took the very first strokes.

Since then, the event has grown significantly. From the first edition around Slotsholmen to an event that today brings together thousands of swimmers and water enthusiasts from Denmark and abroad for the largest open-water swimming event in the Nordic region.

“When you look at where TrygFonden Copenhagen Swim began 20 years ago, and where the event stands today, it is a development we can be truly proud of. It has become a public celebration that brings recreational swimmers from all over the world together around the joy of water. Being able to celebrate the anniversary with a participant record and a sold-out event is the best possible way to mark those 20 years,” says Allan Nyhus.

700+ swim buoys light up the canals

A floating torchlight procession of colourful swim buoys marks the end of Friday’s programme, and the By Night distance is once again one of the event’s most popular. The distance was already sold out last year, and it is especially the international participants who have fallen in love with this unique opportunity.

Once again this year, more than 35 per cent of participants come from abroad, but on By Night the proportion of international participants is even higher. Here, six out of ten swimmers are international guests. In this way, TrygFonden Copenhagen Swim also attracts a large international audience, who at the same time make use of the city’s hotels, restaurants and other offerings.

“It means an incredible amount to us that TrygFonden Copenhagen Swim is popular among Danes, but also attracts participants from all over the world. When people travel to Copenhagen to experience the city from the water, it is both a great recognition of the event and a strong image of the very special opportunities we have to swim in the clean waters right in the heart of the capital. By Night is spectacular in every way – both for the swimmers, but also for the spectators and Copenhageners who are out enjoying Friday evening. It is not every day you see the canals lit up in all the colours of the rainbow by glowing swim buoys, and it helps put Copenhagen on the world map,” says Allan Nyhus.

TrygFonden Copenhagen Swim By Night takes place on Friday from 19:45 to 21:30.

The swimming celebration would not be the same without strong sponsors and dedicated volunteers

TrygFonden Copenhagen Swim is only possible thanks to a major joint effort. More than 150 young and adult volunteers work hard before, during and after the event to create a safe and fantastic atmosphere for the thousands of swimmers who will swim around the Danish Parliament.

The same goes for our sponsors and partners, who each contribute to elevating the event and creating the very special experience that TrygFonden Copenhagen Swim is known for in Denmark and internationally.

• TrygFonden: Title sponsor, lifeguards and safety.
• Craft: T-shirts, sweatshirts and jackets for volunteers, as well as a discount code for participants.
• Krüger Veolia: Sponsor of the Krüger Relay and the water bar at the event site.
• REMA 1000: Sponsor of the REMA 1000-meter, as well as drinks and fruit for participants.
• Speedo/Svømmespecialisten: Swim caps, prizes and a discount code for participants.
• The European Commission: Collaboration on clean water.

In addition, we would also like to extend a big thank you to the City of Copenhagen, By & Havn and other authorities such as the emergency services and the police for supporting TrygFonden Copenhagen Swim.

A historic weekend dedicated to open water

Over the course of the two event days, participants will swim several different distances. On Friday, the swimming celebration begins with the 2,000 m distance with a rolling start, before the Krüger Relay, the REMA 1000-meter and the atmospheric 2,000 m By Night follow.

On Saturday morning, the longest challenge awaits, when participants in the 10,000 m distance swim five laps around the Danish Parliament. The rest of the day includes, among other things, 1,000 m and 2,000 m swims, Speedos Only, the Family Heat and, finally, the elite heats over 2,000 m.

The start and finish are at the Royal Danish Library, and on the classic 2,000 m route, participants swim under Knippelsbro, past the Danish Parliament, along Gammel Strand, through Frederiksholm Canal and past BLOX before returning to the finish area at the Royal Danish Library.

With more than 5,830 participants, sold-out distances and a 20th anniversary, the scene is set for the biggest edition of TrygFonden Copenhagen Swim ever. For example, the Krüger Relay and the classic 2,000 m distance are sold out for the very first time.

And even though almost all start numbers have been sold, you do not have to jump into the water yourself to be part of the celebration. The event area by the Royal Danish Library is open to the public, and throughout the weekend there will be plenty of opportunities to follow the swimmers from the quay and experience activities on and around the water.

We look forward to welcoming participants, volunteers, partners and spectators to two days of open-water swimming and community in the heart of Copenhagen – and to celebrating 20 years of TrygFonden Copenhagen Swim with more swimmers than ever before.

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Briefly about TrygFonden Copenhagen Swim

• The largest open-water swimming event in the Nordic region, with more than 5,830 registered participants, 35% of whom are international participants.
• Anniversary year – 20 years since the very first TrygFonden Copenhagen Swim was held. Back then, with 260 participants.
• Distances of 1,000, 2,000 and 10,000 m, as well as the Krüger Relay of 4x500 m.
• More than 150 volunteers help with registration, timing, logistics, announcing during the event and much more.
• The event starts and finishes at the Royal Danish Library on Søren Kierkegaards Plads in Copenhagen.
• Participants swim anticlockwise around Slotsholmen – they start at the Royal Danish Library, swim under Knippelsbro and into the canal, past the Danish Parliament and into Frederiksholm Canal, after which they swim out by BLOX and finish at the Royal Danish Library.
• The event’s title sponsor is TrygFonden, and the other main sponsors are Krüger Veolia, REMA 1000, the European Commission, Craft, Speedo and Svømmespecialisten.