MPSF Open Water Championships

In 1932, the construction of the Long Beach Marine Stadium marked a turning point in American sporting infrastructure as the first manmade rowing course in the United States. Designed specifically to host the rowing events for the 1932 Summer Olympics, the facility transformed the local landscape by carving a dedicated waterway into the coast. Today, swimmers entering the water at the MPSF Open Water Championships follow these same lines, navigating a stretch of protected salt water that remains a hallmark of the city's maritime history. While the nearby San Pedro Rotary Open Water Swim offers a different tactical approach to the local coastline just weeks prior, the Marine Stadium provides a contained, predictable environment for the 1k and 5k distances.

Navigating the Harbor

The character of the swim is defined by the massive Federal Breakwater, a rock barrier that encloses San Pedro Bay. By limiting natural tidal flushing and incoming wave energy, this structure creates a calm, basin-like condition for the race, though it also impacts water circulation within the harbor. As you navigate the course, the skyline is dominated by the silhouette of the RMS Queen Mary, the historic liner that has been permanently moored here for decades. The proximity to the Los Cerritos Wetlands adds another layer to the experience, as the marshland ecosystems continue to interact with the tidal flow from the San Gabriel River nearby. Athletes should be aware that the water quality in this area is heavily managed, following years of remediation efforts aimed at reversing the historical industrial sediment buildup that once affected the neighboring Colorado Lagoon. The course remains a rare opportunity to swim within a purpose-built Olympic legacy site.