The 2024 Yangtze River Delta Open Water Swimming Championships commence in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, on June 22. [Photo/hz66.com]

The 2024 Yangtze River Delta Open Water Swimming Championships commenced in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, on June 22. 

This event featured a variety of races, including the men's and women's 500-meter freestyle, men's 10-km, and women's 5-km marathon swimming contests, along with the men's and women's 2-km sprint races. It drew nearly 1,000 professional and amateur swimmers from the delta, an area spanning the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui and the municipality of Shanghai.

The standout part of the competition was the 10-km swim, where athletes vied in the waters of the southern section of Taihu Lake, China's third-largest freshwater lake.

Reflecting on the challenging conditions, a local participant named Li Jia remarked, "I frequently engage in open water swimming competitions. Today, I was struck by the formidable waves on Taihu Lake. Completing the 10 km will be demanding, but I am personally content with my performance."

Fifty-year-old contender Kong Yumei from Yancheng, Jiangsu province, has registered for the women's 5-km marathon swimming race. "I maintain a regular training regimen and aim to test my boundaries through this marathon," she said.

In recent times, Huzhou has played host to various sporting events, such as this swimming competition, to strengthen sports, cultural, and tourism exchanges among cities surrounding Taihu Lake. These endeavors also aim to advance the sports industry in the Yangtze River Delta region.