Redondo Beach to host international open water swimming competition in October

Redondo Beach will host an international swimming event in October, drawing more than 1,000 competitors from at least 20 countries. City officials hope the event could serve as a precursor to drawing the open water swimming competition in the 2028 Summer Olympics.

The two-day event, part of the World Open Water Swimming Association, will take place October 4 and 5 off the avenues in south Redondo Beach, said Steve Munatones, the association’s founder.

Day one will include a symposium on oceans and marine life. Day two will be race-day, with multiple contests of varying distances, including 100-meter, 200-meter, 1,000-meter, 2.5-kilometer and 10-kilometer races.

“If you look at Southern California from the perspective of the ocean,” Munatones said this week, “that Redondo coast is spectacular along the way to Palos Verdes.

“People who swim in the ocean,” he added, “know that.”

Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand met earlier this month with Munatones and Bryce Elser, the open water program manager for USA Swimming.