Mohamed Marouf Lake Zürich Marathon Swim Record

In 1993, Egyptian marathon swimmer Mohamed Ahmed Marouf made history in Switzerland by setting the record for the 26.4 km Lake Zürich Marathon Swim, from Rapperswil to Zürich.

On 17 July 1993, at just 22 years old, Marouf completed the legendary lake crossing in:

5 hours 51 minutes 41 seconds

His performance became the men's course record, and sources documenting the event continue to list Marouf's 1993 performance as the record.

The swim was not an ordinary open-water race. Lake Zürich's 26.4 km marathon is one of the world's major long-distance freshwater swims and has become an important preparation event for swimmers attempting the English Channel.

Marouf later recalled that the water felt extremely cold during his record swim. He pushed himself to swim fast from the beginning, believing that maintaining speed would help him stay warm. After more than five hours, when he was close to exhaustion and hypothermia, his coach encouraged him to continue. Seeing the finish ahead, Marouf found the strength to complete the final kilometres and touch the finish.

He had not realized at that moment that he had just written his name into open-water swimming history.

More than three decades later, the 1993 record of 5:51:41 remains one of Mohamed Marouf's greatest achievements and an important part of Egyptian marathon swimming history.

26.4 km. 5:51:41. Egypt 🇪🇬. Lake Zürich 🇨🇭. 1993.
A record born from courage cold water and determination.