Dakar-Gorée crossing set for its 37th edition

The Dakar-Gorée crossing will bring together about 800 swimmers on Sunday for one of Senegal’s leading open-water events. The race links Dakar with the historic island of Gorée and combines sporting competition with cultural and civic significance.

The 37th edition is scheduled for September 27, with the start set for 11:45 at Voile d’Or beach. Participants will finish on Gorée. Around 200 competitors are registered for the professional race, while about 600 amateurs will take part in the second event.

Professionals will swim 5.2 kilometres in the race reserved for the red-cap category and must round buoy 12. The amateur course, for white-cap swimmers, covers 4.5 kilometres and does not require that turn. The format allows elite swimmers and recreational participants from Senegal and abroad to share the same event while competing over different distances.

Created in 1985, the crossing also supports the promotion of swimming and youth education while highlighting Gorée’s place in Senegal’s history. Ousseynou Diop won the men’s race in the 2025 edition, while Seynabou Cissé Ba took the women’s title.