Circuito Paulista de Maratonas Aquáticas 2026 — São Bernardo do Campo (janeiro)

Dark water ripples against the skin, holding the steady, rhythmic pull of a freestyle stroke as the horizon shifts between dense shoreline vegetation and distant urban silhouettes. Beneath the surface, the visibility is limited, a consequence of the vast catchment area that feeds the Billings Reservoir, a complex hydraulic system carved into the landscape to serve the growing needs of the metropolitan expanse. Floating past the occasional marker, the silence of the water contrasts with the industrial hum of the surrounding ABC region, a contrast that defines the experience of the Circuito Paulista de Maratonas Aquáticas in São Bernardo do Campo. By mid-course, the scale of the reservoir becomes apparent; it is an inland sea that functions as a vital water reserve, challenging swimmers with its expansive reach and unpredictable surface conditions.

Race day logistics

January brings high temperatures to the state of São Paulo, ensuring the reservoir maintains a warm, consistent thermal profile for the race day on January 24, 2026. Organizers from the Maratona Aquática Igor de Souza provide a standardized technical kit for all participants, which includes a race-specific swim cap, a timing chip for precise lap tracking, and a finisher medal upon crossing the line. Entry fees cover the logistical demand of securing such a large body of water, including the deployment of support craft and the management of water quality monitoring protocols. Participants should expect a high-intensity environment, characteristic of the Paulista circuit, where the focus remains on personal pacing against the backdrop of one of Brazil’s most significant hydrological structures. The event demands a solid acclimatization to lake swimming, where the absence of salt buoyancy requires a more deliberate, flatter body position throughout the duration of the swim.