The second stop of the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup 2023 is in Golfo Aranci, Sardinia. This will mark the first time Italy has hosted a World Aquatics Open Water Swimming event.

Unlike swimming competitions in the pool, open water swimming competitions take place over long distances in natural bodies of water such as the open ocean, rivers and lakes. Also called water marathons, the competition distances are 5 km, 10 km and 25 km, and because they are affected by natural conditions, it is a gruelling discipline that requires knowledge and experience as well as technique.