WOW Challenge

Williamstown Swimming and LSC

How to enter

Event Website

At a glance

Sun, 1 Mar 2026

Williamstown Beach, Williamstown VIC

Ocean Swim

1.2km, 2.5km, 5km & 10km

Around The Buoys

Why this event?

An epic event that attracts first time open water swimmers to world and Olympic champions

The Williamstown Open Water Challenge – “WOW Challenge” – attracts first-time open water swimmers to world and Olympic champions.

Held at Williamstown beach, only 10 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD, you’ll find elite swimmers and everyday open water swimmers, swimming together in all events.

This event has four swim distances to choose from, 1.2km, 2.5km and 5km open water swim.

The WOW Challenge is for everyone from champions, weekend warriors, kids, multiclass swimmers, fast, slow, young and old swimmers.

It’s also an opportunity to mingle with some of the best open water swimmers in the world with past winners including 2015 World Champion Jordan Wilimovsky, Team USA’s Katy Campbell, Australian Dolphin Sam Sheppard and Brazilian Olympian Lisandra De Carvalho.

On the day

What's on offer

1.2km Ocean Swim

years

This swim starts on the beach before swimmers head out to round two buoys before returning to shore to finish.

2.5km Ocean Swim

years

This event is swum on the famous Williamstown 2.5km championship course. Swimmers will start on the beach before swimming the course in an anti-closewise direction. The first turn will take swimmers around the rock groyne and over The Crystals, a local diving and snorkeling site. This is followed by a left turn to the boat harbour which takes swimmers out into deeper water before conducting another left turn. From here swimmers will head east onto the legendary WOW back straight. With swimmers making a final left turn, to head back to the feeding station and finish arch. The course could be reversed back into a clockwise direction if weather conditions change.

5km Ocean Swim

years

This event is swum on the famous Williamstown 2.5km championship course like the 2.5km swim, instead swimmers will tackle the course for two laps instead of one. Swimmers will start on the beach before swimming the course in an anti-closewise direction. The first turn will take swimmers around the rock groyne and over The Crystals, a local diving and snorkeling site. This is followed by a left turn to the boat harbour which takes swimmers out into deeper water before conducting another left turn. From here swimmers will head east onto the legendary WOW back straight. With swimmers making a final left turn, to head back to the feeding station and finish arch. The course could be reversed back into a clockwise direction if weather conditions change.

Swim map

Make this summer count – join the GVSS!

Join the fun, friendly statewide challenge linking this swim and 9 other iconic Victorian swims and go in the draw for amazing prizes, including a Swim the Whitsundays tour, the new 2026 Pier to Pine Norfolk Island escape, and post-event giveaways all season. Plus, the first merch range of the new era has landed! Sign Up Today

Prepare for this event

Have A Go: 1km Training Program
Whether you’re coming back after a long break or you’re completely new to swimming, we’ll help you prepare for your 1km swim. Learn more

Up The Ante: 2km Training Program
Step up in distance with this training program designed to build you up & guide you all the way to the finish. Learn more

Learn online with the OceanFit Academy or join a hands-on ocean clinic to improve your surf and open water skills.