Patrícia Farias Combines Open Water and Ocean Activism in Rio
From the Urca–Paquetá swim to a 24-hour relay, the swimmer turns open-water challenges into ecological awareness.
Ultramarathon swimmer Patrícia Farias details her open-water crossings focused on marine conservation in Rio de Janeiro. Her key projects include the Urca–Paquetá route and a 24-hour relay linked to the Limpa Brasil movement.
For Patrícia Farias, connecting with the ocean goes far beyond chasing athletic milestones. Speaking on Natação Stemma, the open-water ultramarathon swimmer explained how she has been aligning major endurance challenges with ocean conservation and cleanup initiatives along Rio de Janeiro's coastline.
24-Hour Swim and the Limpa Brasil Movement
Among her awareness campaigns, Patrícia took part in a 24-hour swimming relay in Rio de Janeiro marking Global Ocean Day. The four-athlete team featured Ivana, Pri, and a swimmer from Estonia—the birthplace of the international Let's Do It movement, which serves as the foundation for the Limpa Brasil project.
The campaign's motto, 'I take care of my own square,' resonated with the athlete for its simplicity and direct impact: the notion that environmental protection starts with individual responsibility for one's own training and living space.
Returning to Rio and Circling the Cagarras
After moving back to Rio de Janeiro in late 2024 to co-manage Equipe Navegantes alongside Renato Ribeiro, Patrícia shifted her daily focus while keeping an active competition schedule. In 2025, alongside traditional events such as Copacabana's Travessia dos Fortes and stages of Rei e Rainha do Mar, she completed a swim circling the Cagarras Archipelago.
The Cagarras route spans 23 km, starting from Posto 6 in Copacabana, circling the entire archipelago, and returning to the starting point. The course is considered highly technical and demanding, while offering striking views of Rio's coastline.
The Historic Challenge from Urca to Paquetá
Her definitive commitment to environmental activism crystallized when Renato Ribeiro asked about her ultimate athletic dream. Her direct answer—that she wanted to swim for ocean cleanup—sparked the project for a crossing from Urca to Paquetá Island across Guanabara Bay.
The route passes historic city landmarks and offers a unique setting, with planes taking off overhead and swimmers sharing the water with large cargo vessels under the close watch of a support boat. For Patrícia, the crossing stands as one of the most unforgettable experiences along Rio's coast, blending scenic beauty with a call to protect the bay's waters.