La Radikal Open Water Swim Celebrates 17th Edition on Costa Brava

“Passàvem l’estiu a Llafranc i ens agradava anar nedant fins a Calella. Llavors poca gent feia aquestes coses… I xerrant amb el farmacèutic del poble un dia esmorzant després de nedar, em va preguntar si no seria una bona idea fer colla per a una travessa. I mira, vaig escriure un missatge al Facebook, que era el que es feia llavors, dient que si algú s’hi volia apuntar un dia faríem una travessa nedant. I s’hi van apuntar més de 100 persones.”

That casual 2009 social media post by former Olympic swimmer Dani Serra sparked La Radikal, which returns for its 17th edition this weekend along the Costa Brava with nearly 2,500 registered participants, ara.cat reported.

Three Athletes Start the Event After a Breakfast Conversation

The event traces back to three close friends with athletic backgrounds who spent their summers near the water in Llafranc. Dani Serra competed in swimming at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, Sergi Roure swam at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and Àlex Amorós played water polo internationally. Alongside local life, the trio maintained a routine of open-water swimming long before the discipline surged in popularity across Spain.

Following a conversation with the local pharmacist over breakfast after a morning swim, Serra published a call to action on Facebook. More than 100 swimmers answered the initial digital invitation in 2009. Recognizing a growing public appetite for open-water challenges, the founders partnered with Club Vela Calella and Club Atlètic Palafrugell to establish a formal, structured event focused heavily on participant safety.

Growing into Radikal Swim and the Costa Brava Economy

Building on the success of the annual swim, the organizers established the Radikal Swim club, initially operating as a non-profit association before transitioning into a formal sports club based in Barcelona. Serra attributes the broader boom in open-water swimming to two main drivers: a desire for natural environments and the concurrent rise of the triathlon.

This weekend’s 17th edition draws close to 2,500 athletes, a cap set deliberately to manage coastal capacity and participant safety. Beyond the starting line, thousands of spectators, family members, and visitors travel to the region, injecting vital economic activity into Costa Brava towns during the shoulder tourist season when visitor numbers typically decline.

Safety Operations and GPS-Controlled Buoys

Organizers deploy extensive infrastructure to safeguard swimmers across the coastal courses, utilizing 35 support boats, 40 tracking kayaks, 12 aquatic lifeguards, two rescue jet skis, ambulances, and a dedicated medical assistance tent. The event also incorporates “Radikal Angels,” experienced volunteer swimmers who accompany participants along the route to offer immediate encouragement and support—a concept Serra and his co-founders adapted from similar initiatives in the United States.

For the 17th edition, the competition introduces a new 3.5-kilometer route starting and finishing in Llafranc. Organizers are also running a pilot test utilizing eight GPS-controlled buoys that do not require anchors fixed to the seabed, aiming to minimize the environmental footprint on the marine ecosystem.

Elite Swimmers and National Teams Join the Competition

The competitive field features the Catalan open-water swimming team under head coach Luis Rodríguez, including multiple Radikal winner Guillem Pujol alongside Olympians Ferran Julià and Clàudia Giralt. The Spanish national artistic swimming team, led by head coach Andrea Fuentes following a training block in Puerto Rico, will also participate in the 2-kilometer event.

Serra noted the vibrant atmosphere brought by elite aquatic athletes in past editions, recalling when the women’s national water polo team tossed a ball between each other during the course. The artistic swimming squad performs synchronized routines in the water following the main events, drawing large crowds to the shoreline venue.

Three Race Distances Anchor the Weekend Festivities

The weekend features three core distances: a 3.5-kilometer flagship race starting and finishing in Llafranc with a turnaround in Calella, alongside 2-kilometer and 7-kilometer courses departing from Platja d’en Calau in Calella de Palafrugell. A dedicated event village hosts sponsor booths, swim brands, and spectator zones.

“Quan vam començar no pensàvem que arribaríem fins aquí,” Serra reflected on the growth of the community. “Cada cop més gent valora poder fer-ho i també es pren consciència de la necessitat de cuidar el mar i tenir-lo net. Veure com creix la comunitat és bonic. I en molts casos, com el meu, emociona quan veus com els fills que de petit ho miraven des de la sorra ara ja hi participen amb els amics.”