Open-water swimming in 1991: World Cup circuit · 461

Lakes, rivers and seas without a wall — sighting, temperature and the difference between a lido and a 10 km World Aquatics race. Open-water swimming is any continuous swim where the “pool” is a coastline, lake or river. It includes casual wild swims, organised 1–5 km events, and the 10 km Olympic marathon introduced at Beijing 2008.

World Aquatics and national federations write race rules on wetsuits, feeding and water temperature. Those rules do not govern a Tuesday lake dip — local clubs, coastguard advice and park bylaws do. This chapter is a map of practice and history, not a live swim plan. Conditions change by the hour; event organisers and local authorities publish the briefing that matters on the day.

Municipal and club pools publish lane books before open-water leaps. Red Cross / federation lessons gate beginners — a dive card is not a pool pass. Indoor 25 m is year-round; outdoor seasons follow local climate. Open-water swimming mapped for mechanisms, locale notes and limits.