Participants in Seoul competed in the “Aqua Slon” event, a dual-stage race involving a lake swim and a high-rise stair climb.
The event pushes human physical limits by combining two distinct athletic disciplines into a single endurance challenge. By pairing the buoyancy of water with the vertical strain of a skyscraper, the competition tests a participant's ability to adapt to rapidly changing physical demands.
The race began in the early morning at Seokchon Lake in Jamsil [1]. Competitors swam across the lake before transitioning to the adjacent Lotte World Tower [1]. Once at the tower, athletes were required to climb a staircase spanning 123 floors [1].
Participants 이주희 and 박남규, who traveled from Incheon for the event, expressed their motivation for joining the unconventional race. They said they wanted to take the opportunity to swim and climb a tall building, and they hoped to finish within the top 10 [2].
YTN reporter 문상아 covered the event from both the starting point at Seokchon Lake and the finish line at the top of the tower [1]. The swimming segment had already commenced approximately 20 minutes before the reporter's initial interview with the athletes [1].
The event is designed to showcase high-energy sports that deviate from traditional athletic formats. By utilizing Seoul's urban landscape—specifically the contrast between the natural lake and the architectural height of the tower—the organizers created a course that requires both cardiovascular stamina and muscular strength [1, 2].
“Competitors swim across Seokchon Lake and then climb a 123-floor staircase up Lotte Tower”
The Aqua Slon competition reflects a growing trend in 'extreme' urban athletics where city landmarks are repurposed into sporting arenas. By integrating a swim with a massive vertical climb, the event moves beyond traditional triathlons to test specific physiological transitions, highlighting the intersection of urban infrastructure and endurance sports.
