Three Rivers Marathon Swim
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Event Overview
Team Forever will host the 14th Annual Three Rivers Marathon Swim on August 29, 2026. The event is an open water swim with a water start for eight participants. The swim benefits Team Forever, which donates the event's profit to the Forever Fund. This fund supports local families with costs related to infant cardiothoracic surgery at the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Course Details
The swim covers a distance of roughly 30 kilometers. The course is an out-and-back loop of 5 kilometers in each of Pittsburgh's three rivers: the Ohio, Monongahela, and Allegheny Rivers. Swimmers start at the fountain in Point State Park, swimming north with the current along the Ohio River before turning around at Brunot Island and swimming back against the current.
Swimmers then proceed against the current on the Monongahela River to the Hot Metal Bridge turnaround point, before returning to the starting point. The final leg is an out-and-back section on the Allegheny River to the 40th Street Bridge.
Support and Logistics
The event provides significant support for swimmers. Each swimmer will be flanked by two kayak volunteers at all times, and feeding will be from a designated kayak. Additional supplies will be available on a second kayak and from powered escort boats patrolling the course. Swimmers may also bring their own kayakers. The event includes support from powered escort boats, Pittsburgh River Rescue, Pittsburgh Police, and the Coast Guard.
Event Rules
The event has a strict 12-hour time cutoff. Swimmers must maintain a pace to complete the first 10 kilometers within 4 hours. The average water temperature is approximately 72°F, though conditions can vary. Swimmers are required to wear a marathon swimming costume. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
