Bacalar, Quintana Roo — Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa kicked off the 20th edition of the Bacalar Open Water Marathon, a competition that brought together 1,595 athletes from five countries and has become one of the most important sporting events in southern Quintana Roo.
Speaking from the Laguna de los Siete Colores, Lezama highlighted that this edition marks two decades of history for a race that has helped position Bacalar as an internationally relevant destination for sports tourism.
“It’s been 20 years of this Open Water Marathon, and that’s easy to say, but it’s two decades of enormous effort putting Bacalar on the map in Mexico and the world,” Lezama said.
The governor was joined by Bacalar Mayor José Alfredo Contreras Méndez, Quintana Roo Sports Commission Director Jacobo Arzate, and local deputy Diana Friné Gutiérrez García.
This year’s participants come from Canada, the United States, Iran, Israel, and Mexico. Of the total registered competitors, 905 are women, 683 are men, and seven are athletes with disabilities, reflecting the event’s inclusive nature.
The competition features distances of 250 meters, 1.25 kilometers, 2.5 kilometers, 5 kilometers, 7.5 kilometers, and 10 kilometers, allowing swimmers of various levels and ages to take part.
Around 850 athletes competed on Saturday, while 918 swimmers are expected to participate on Sunday across the different categories.
Lezama also highlighted the presence of notable Quintana Roo athletes, including Iker Eloan Galindo García, silver medalist at the 2026 Conade National Olympiad; Claudia Melissa Torres Bardales, two-time national aquathlon champion; Fernando Betanzos Rodríguez, multiple national and international medalist; and Jesica Dabdoub Oyarzábal, three-time Oceanman world champion.
The governor noted that events of this scale generate direct benefits for the local economy by attracting not only competitors but also their families, coaches, and support crews, boosting hotel occupancy, restaurant sales, and commercial activity in the municipality.
With participants ranging from 11 years old to seniors over 80, the 20th Bacalar Open Water Marathon reaffirms its position as one of the most important events on the national open-water swimming calendar and a platform to promote Quintana Roo’s natural and tourist attractions to domestic and international visitors.
