Dakar-Gorée Swim
The Dakar-Gorée Swim (French: Traversée Dakar-Gorée) is an annual open water swimming event between the beach of Dakar and Gorée island.[1] The competition is split into a 4500 m race for amateurs and a 5200 m course.[2] The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 epidemic.[3]
History[edit]
The Dakar-Gorée crossing was launched in 1985 as a homage to the victims of slavery who displayed resilience by attempting to swim, often in chains, towards freedom. The first edition of the swim took place on October 15, 1985, during the International Youth Year. Around thirty participants set off from the harbor of the Autonomous Port of Dakar for this inaugural edition, covering a distance of 3500 m.[4]
Since 2001, the Senegalese Swimming and Lifesaving Federation decided to adhere to the standards of the International Swimming Federation (FINA), increasing the distance of the Dakar-Gorée crossing to 5000 m, starting from the Voile d'Or beach in Dakar.[4]
In 2004, the competition saw over 600 participants, both men and women, Senegalese and foreigners.[4]
It was in 2008 that the Senegalese Swimming and Lifesaving Federation decided to organize two starts: race A (7800 m), starting from Thiaroye, and race B (4500 m) with the starting point at the Voile d'Or beach. The 2008 innovation has been maintained since then, but both races now start from the same location (Voile d'Or), with a change in distance for race A, which now covers 5200 km.[4]
In 2012, the 4500 m race for amateurs saw the participation of 410 individuals, while the race for experienced swimmers, licensed club members, covering 7800 m, was contested by 66 individuals, according to the organizers.[5]
It has been a recurring event throughout its history, except in 2020 and 2021 when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
Description[edit]
As of 2023, two race categories are held during the event: Race A, which spans 5,200 meters and is attended by professional swimmers starting from Voile d'Or; and Race B, designed for amateurs, which in 2023 saw participation from around 400 swimmers.[6]
Winners[edit]
Men's competition[edit]
| Date | Swimmer | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 |  Hachim Badji
|
ASC Diaraf
|
| 1986 | Mohamed Diop
| |
| 1987 | Samba Ndoye
|
ASFA
|
| 1988 | ||
| 1989 | ||
| 1993 | Abdoulaye Thiaw
|
Olympique de Ngor
|
| 1994 | Samba Ndoye
|
ASFA
|
| 1995 | ||
| 1996 | Mangoné Samba
| |
| 1997 | Samba Ndoye
| |
| 1998 | ||
| 1999 | Malick Fall
|
ETICS de Mboro
|
| 2000 | ||
| 2001 | ||
| 2002 | ||
| 2003 |  Benjamin Mathieu
|
RC France
|
| 2004 | Mangoné Samba
|
ASFA
|
| 2005 | Guy Noël Smith
|
CN Cannes
|
| 2006 |  Mazen Aziz
|
EGY
|
| 2007 | Mangoné Samba
|
ASFA
|
| 2008 | Matar Samb
|
Olympique de Ngor
|
| 2009 | Malick Fall
|
SFOC
|
| 2010 | Matar Samb
|
Olympique de Ngor
|
| 2011 | Abdoul Niane
|
BCEAO
|
| 2012 | ||
| 2013 | Adama Thiaw Ndir
|
ASFA
|
| 2014 | Malick Fall
|
SFOC
|
| 2015 | Mamadou Ndoye Diop
|
RS Yoff
|
| 2016 | Adama Thiaw Ndir
|
AOC
|
| 2017 | Amadou Ndiaye
|
SM Montrouge
|
| 2018 | Adama Thiaw Ndir
|
ASFA
|
| 2019 | ||
| 2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[8] | |
| 2021 | ||
| 2022[9] | Ousseynou Diop
|
ASFA
|
| 2023[10] | ||
Women's competition[edit]
| Date | Swimmer | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Khoudia Kamara
|
US Gorée
|
| 1987 | Marième Soda Camara
| |
| 1988 | ||
| 1989 | ||
| 1993 | ||
| 1994 | Alexandra Roucher
|
CN Dakar
|
| 1995 | Zeïna Saheli
| |
| 1996 | ||
| 1997 | ||
| 1998 | Marième Soda Camara
|
US Gorée
|
| 1999 | Zeïna Saheli
|
CN Dakar
|
| 2000 | ||
| 2001 | Maty Beye
|
ETICS de Mboro
|
| 2002 | Zeïna Saheli
|
CN Dakar
|
| 2003 | Jessica Sylla
| |
| 2004 | ||
| 2005 | Khadija Ciss
|
CN Cannes
|
| 2006 |  Louise Smyth
|
RSA
|
| 2007 | Binta Zahra Diop
|
CN Dakar
|
| 2008 | Oulèye Diallo
|
BCEAO
|
| 2009 | Yaye Diadou Diagne
|
Olympique de Ngor
|
| 2010 | ||
| 2011 | ||
| 2012 | ||
| 2013 |  Meredith Anne Staken
|
CNDG
|
| 2014 | ||
| 2015 | Jeanne Boutbien
|
BCEAO
|
| 2016 | Jeanne Boutbien
|
AOC
|
| 2017 | Ndèye Tabara Diagne
|
BCEAO
|
| 2018 | AOC
| |
| 2019 | ||
| 2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[8] | |
| 2021 | ||
| 2022[9] | Mariama Dramé
|
CNRAM
|
| 2023[10] | Aïssatou Ndiaye
| |
References[edit]
- ^ Haque, Nicolas. "Hundreds swim to former Senegal slave island in annual race". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ "La traversée Dakar-Gorée : 600 nageurs pour la 32è édition". Africa Top Sports (in French). 26 September 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ "Officiel - La Traversée Dakar-Gorée annulée ! - Natation". wiwsport (in French). 2020-10-24. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
- ^ a b c d "Meredith Staken et Malick Fall remportent la traversée Dakar- Gorée". Seneweb. September 28, 2014.
- ^ "Traversée à la nage entre Dakar et l'île de Gorée: une 25e édition populaire". Jeune Afrique. September 30, 2012.
- ^ a b Fisayo-Bambi, Jerry (September 25, 2023). "Senegal: Hundreds compete in Dakar to Gorée Island swimming race". Africa News.
- ^ a b "Palmares of the Dakar-Gorée crossing - Men". fsns.sn. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
- ^ a b "Swimming: the 33rd edition of Dakar - Gorée postponed to 2022". sportnewsafrica.com. October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
- ^ a b "Dakar-Gorée 2022 : Les lauréats honorés, ce samedi !" (in French). 2022-10-13. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
- ^ a b "Traversée Dakar-Gorée (34ème édition) : Ousseynou Diop et Aïssatou Ndiaye sacrés". STADES (in French). 2023-09-25. Retrieved 2024-05-17.