Australian Long Distance Swimming Federation

13/03/2025

I am writing to officially inform the open water swimming community of a leadership change within the Australian Long Distance Swimming Federation.

As of 9 March 2025, Christian Renford of Sydney, NSW, assumed the role of President, succeeding Douglas Hughson of Hobart, Tasmania. Christian Renford brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Federation, and I am confident that his leadership will continue to drive the organisation forward.

It has been a pleasure to be part of this organisation during my tenure and I wish Christian all the best in helping the open water community move forward with his new role.

Christian Renford expressed his gratitude, saying: "I want to extend my sincere thanks to Doug for his leadership and dedication to the ALDSF. His commitment to the sport and our community has been invaluable, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation he has helped create. I also acknowledge the contributions of Chris and Sue Guesdon before him – they have each played instrumental roles in shaping the Federation into what it is today."

"It is an honour to take on this role and to be entrusted with leading the ALDSF into the future. Open water swimming continues to grow in Australia, and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead. The Australian Triple Crown and the ALDSF have some exciting ideas in store, and I look forward to working with the community to bring them to life."

The Australian Long Distance Swimming Federation appreciates your continued support as we embark on this new chapter under Christian Renford’s leadership. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the Australian Long Distance Swimming Federation"

25/01/2025

** Breaking news the launch of Australia's own database**

Today we are celebrating the launch of Australia’s own Long Swim Database! Dive into the database designed to showcase Australian swimmer's achievements plus more. Whether you’re a swimmer, coach, or fan, this comprehensive tool puts the world of Australia’s swimming stats at your fingertips. Your journey, your data—streamlined and accessible like never before: https://marathon-swims.com

Australian Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming
Derwent River Big Swim and Australian Long Distance Swimming Federation
Euroz Hartleys Port to Pub with Hotel Rottnest
www.anotherlevelperformance.com
Keppel Islands Swimming Association
VladSwim
World Open Water Swimming Association
South32 Rottnest Channel Swim

04/10/2024

The third major event for Australia's own Australian triple Crown is the 34km Derwent River Big Swim. Bookings for this event are essential and fill up fast. Book now for the 2024/2025 season.

www.derwentriverbigswim.com

04/10/2024

Palm2shelly another major event required to achieve the Australian Triple Crown or if you need a challenge get in touch with anoutherlevelperformance.com for more information and swims.

https://anotherlevelperformance.com/palm2shelly-info/

AUSTRALIAN TRIPLE CROWN SWIM April 2025 with 06:30am start time (during daylight saving) or if bad weather the following contingency dates: April 2025 OR 2 weeks after that in 2025. Next available …

10/08/2024

The Australian Long Distance Swimming Federation (ALDSF) has observed that The Long Swims Database a Marathon Swimmers Federation project (MSF) is claiming that they are able to ratify solo swims that are required to complete events for the Australia’s own Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming (ATC) on their database. We are just filling swimmers in on some facts.

The ALDSF founded the Australian Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming enterprise the 1st of February 2020 by Chris and Sue Guesdon.

The below courses are the only three courses that swimmers are required to complete to attain the ATC, and these three courses have never varied and can't be varied by anyone else or any other organisation.
3 swim courses are:
*Channel: 25km, Port to Pub, Fremantle - Rottnest (WA)
*River: 34km, Derwent River Big Swim, (TAS)
*Ocean: 24km, Palm Beach to Shelly Beach (NSW)

Each event or Marathon swim has its own Coordinators/Committees of people who control and manage each Marathon Swim/Event in Australia. Each event has its own recognisable online presence that identify swimmers who have completed these Events/Swims.

The Australian Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming (ATC) enterprise was created in Australia as an award in recognition of swimmers who have spent their personal time, money and effort into completing these three amazing Australian swims.

The Long Swims Database a Marathon Swimmers Federation project seem to have an agenda in changing these Australian Marathon Swim/Events to what may seem to be a way of disrupting/using the ATC for their own personal gain.

The Long Swims Database a Marathon Swimmers Federation project has no control or decision-making claim to who ratifies these events/swims for the ATC. The Australian Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming is ratified by the completion of these three incredible Australian events and no other events that have been created by The Long Swims Database a Marathon Swimmers Federation project.

The ALSDF feel that this disruption is causing a lot of confusion and stress in the Australian marathon swimming community and the Internationally swimming community as swimmers come to Australia to complete Australia's own ATC. It is very distressing to the organisations that have spent a lot of their personal time and money to make these amazing events work that contribute to the ATC.

The Australian Long Distance Swimming Federation acknowledges that Long Swims Database a Marathon Swimmers Federation project is an incredible database and a wealth of information and is recognised worldwide and is respected worldwide by the swimming community.

As a swimming community we should all work together to make Australian marathon swimming amazing and give the correct recognition to swimmers who complete these events and give recognition to the event organisers who run these events.

The Long Swims Database a Marathon Swimmers Federation project (MSF) need to step up and stop publishing incorrect information on the Long Swim database and treat the Australian Swimming Community and the Australian Triple Crown with the respect it deserves.

02/04/2024

Doug Hughson – Australian Long Distance Swimming federation President

Australian marathon swimmer, Dean Summers, completed the Newcastle to Sydney swim and has set a new Australian long- distance record 95.66km.
Australian marathon swimmer, Dean Summers, on the 14th of March 2024 completed an ultra-marathon swim from Newcastle to Sydney and has set a new Australian long-distance swim record.
Dean Started his swim at Nobbys Beach Newcastle on the 13th of March 2024 ending Dean’s swim at Palm Beach Sydney on the 14th of March 2024.

In being asked to ratify Dean's swim, the ALDSF reviewed all documentation and tracker data submitted as evidence. As a result, the ALDSF can confirm that Dean did complete a 95.66km swim in a time of 31hrs and 16min. However, the ALDSF acknowledges that the swim course from Newcastle (Nobbys Beach) to Sydney (Palm beach) in a direct line is 87.8km, and that this is the official distance of the swim.

31/03/2024

ALDSF Honoured by IMSHOF

The Australian Long Distance Swimming Federation is to be inducted as an Honour Organisation into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in New York City on 6th May 2023.

The Australian Long Distance Swimming Federation (ALDSF) was founded in Hobart, Tasmania in 1973 and is the longest serving national open water swimming body in Oceania. The Foundation members and office bearers were President Christopher Guesdon (IMSHOF), Deputy President Dick Campion (IMSHOF), Secretary Sue Guesdon (IMSHOF), and Executive Member John Koorey (AMSHOF).

In launching this first national organisation, the ALDSF paved the way for the sport in Australia. The ALDSF brought marathon swimming to life by founding marathon swimming accreditation in the country and providing recognition for our sport.

Through the ALDSF, Australia became affiliated with the major international marathon swimming organisations the International Long Distance Swimming Federation and the World Professional Marathon Swimming Federation. The ALDSF introduced the first ever Australian national championship marathon races and enabled a national team to compete on the international professional marathon swimming circuit.

The Derwent River Big Swim was the first of the events held by the ALDSF in 1973. This swim remains the national blue-ribbon event and is recognised as the principle solo unassisted swim in Australia.

In 2020, the ALDSF set up the prestigious Australian Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming and was inducted into the Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame the same year.

The Australian Long Distance Federation at OpenWaterPedia: https://tinyurl.com/4utcabxx

30/03/2024

Did you know:

💡The Australian Long Distance Swimming Federation is over 50yrs old and was formed in 1973! 😲

💡The Foundation Members were President: Chris Guesdon (IMSHOF), Deputy President: Dick Campion (IMSHOF), Secretary: Sue Guesdon (IMSHOF) 😲

💡In 2020, it was inducted the Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame! 😲

💡In 2023, it was inducted into the Int'l Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame! 😲

More on ALDSF in coming posts. You can follow us on instagram 😊