swimming is almost as much part of day-to-day life in rio de janeiro as the sun - the city and its residents live for the refreshing ocean and its various moods, and every day of the week the sandy shores are filled with individuals looking to enjoy the sun and swim in the sea. since humans could walk they looked to the water for exercise and relaxation.

in rio de janeiro, what begun as one swimmer's determination to achieve his goal of swimming along the entire stretch of beaches, an effort that was immortalized in the famous tim maia's song 'do leme ao pontal',  has now taken the shape of a famous competition - king and queen of the sea, or rei e rainha do mar, is a highly anticipated event, that is well known around the country.

With three editions, in march, june and december, rei & ainha do mar gathers more than 10000 professional, and amateur, athletes to compete in what is one of the biggest sportive events in the continent - it attracts  people from all over the world to compete and cheer.