Nearly 4,000 swimmers conquer Victoria Harbour in joyous 2025 crossing

Hong Kong’s iconic Victoria Harbour turned into a sea of colorful caps on Saturday morning as close to 4,000 swimmers of all ages plunged in for the return of the Victoria Harbour Race 2025, the city’s biggest open-water celebration after last year’s typhoon cancellation.

Starting from Wan Chai’s Golden Bauhinia Square pier and finishing at Tsim Sha Tsui’s Avenue of Stars, the one-kilometer course saw 12-year-old first-timers rubbing shoulders with 68-year-old veterans.

Competitors were split into a competitive racing group and a relaxed leisure group, with a new companion category allowing up to four friends or family members to cross together.

Open-water team regulars Shin Cham-him and Yip Tsz-yan claimed the men’s and women’s titles in 17:48.60 and 19:18.83, respectively, while freshly crowned National Games double-gold hero Siobhán Haughey, racing the harbor for the first time, finished a delighted second in the women’s race just 32 seconds back.

The Olympic star admitted the choppy currents and poor visibility made it tougher than any pool, joking that she spent most of the race following Yip’s bright pink cap to stay on course.

Among the thousands were Dutch Olympic breaststroke silver medalist Arno Kamminga enjoying his first-ever public open-water swim, teenagers battling big mid-race waves, and a 68-year-old wheelchair user surnamed Wong completing the crossing for the tenth time despite paralysis below the waist.

Wong called this year’s stronger currents and head-on swell the hardest in a decade but powered through with daily 2,000-meter training sessions and sheer determination to avoid any regrets.

Organizers reported only one minor injury among the near-4,000 participants and announced ambitious plans to double the field to 10,000 next year with two parallel courses.