The Dakar–Gorée Swim also known as the Dakar–Gorée Crossing () is an annual open water swimming race event between the beach of Dakar and Gorée island, first held in 1985. The competition is split into a 4500 m race for amateurs and a 5200 m course. The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 epidemic. This sporting event is very popular in Senegal and is unique in West Africa.
History 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. Gorée Island is a place symbolic of the memory of the slave trade in Africa, and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.https://africaaquatics.org/event-details/35th-dakar-gor-e-crossing
The idea for the crossing came from a group of young swimmers, mostly from Gorée, who wanted to celebrate Saint Charles, patron saint of Gorée, by challenging each other to a race between Dakar and Gorée Island. Among them, Samba Ndoye, Ibra Kare, Hachim Badji, Mbaye Ndiaye, Mohamed Diop, and Karim Thioune would go on to become important figures in Senegalese sport. 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.
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.
In 2004, the competition saw over 600 participants, both men and women, Senegalese and foreigners.
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 m.
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.
It has been a recurring event throughout its history, except in 2020 and 2021 when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Description 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.
Winners
Men's competition +Men's competitionDateSwimmerClub1985 Hachim Badji ASC Diaraf1986 Mohamed Diop1987 Samba Ndoye ASFA198819891993 Abdoulaye Thiaw Olympique de Ngor1994 Samba Ndoye ASFA19951996 Mangoné Samba1997 Samba Ndoye19981999 Malick Fall ETICS de Mboro2000200120022003 Benjamin Mathieu RC France2004 Mangoné Samba ASFA2005 Guy Noël Smith CN Cannes2006 Mazen Aziz EGY2007 Mangoné Samba ASFA2008 Matar Samb Olympique de Ngor2009 Malick Fall SFOC2010 Matar Samb Olympique de Ngor2011 Abdoul Niane BCEAO20122013 Adama Thiaw Ndir ASFA2014 Malick Fall SFOC2015 Mamadou Ndoye Diop RS Yoff2016 Adama Thiaw Ndir AOC2017 Amadou Ndiaye SM Montrouge2018 Adama Thiaw Ndir ASFA20192020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic20212022 Ousseynou Diop ASFA2023
Women's competition +Women's competitionDateSwimmerClub1986 Khoudia Kamara US Gorée1987 Marième Soda Camara1988198919931994 Alexandra Roucher CN Dakar1995 Zeïna Saheli199619971998 Marième Soda Camara US Gorée1999 Zeïna Saheli CN Dakar20002001 Maty Beye ETICS de Mboro2002 Zeïna Saheli CN Dakar2003 Jessica Sylla20042005 Khadija Ciss CN Cannes2006 Louise Smyth RSA2007 Binta Zahra Diop CN Dakar2008 Oulèye Diallo BCEAO2009 Yaye Diadou Diagne Olympique de Ngor2010201120122013 Meredith Anne Staken CNDG20142015 Jeanne Boutbien BCEAO2016 Jeanne Boutbien AOC2017 Ndèye Tabara Diagne BCEAO2018 AOC20192020Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic20212022 Mariama Dramé CNRAM2023 Aïssatou Ndiaye
References