Jose Luis Larrosa Chorro
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Elche, Spain → Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
José Luis
Larrosa Chorro
Spanish ultra-marathon open water swimmer, two-time champion of the 81 km India National Open Water Swimming Competition on the River Bhagirathi — the longest annual open water race in the world.
Profile
From water polo in Elche to the world's longest river race
José Luis Larrosa Chorro is a Spanish open water swimmer, coach and aquapreneur. He began as a water polo player with the Elche Swimming Club (2000–2006), later swimming for Benidorm C.N. (2009) and C.N. Tennis Elche (2010–2018), while working for the Elche Sports Council as a swimming coach and lifeguard from 2003 to 2018.
In 2017 he relocated to Malaysia, serving as Head Swimming Coach at St. Joseph International School (2017–2019) before joining Garden International School in Kuala Lumpur as PE teacher and swimming coach, and Head of Aquatics since 2021. He has coached the Malaysian Open Water National Team and officiated as an international open water referee under FINA and the Asia Swimming Federation at the 2017 Asian Open Water Championships and the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. In 2023 he advised the Jakarta Open Water State Team, coaching swimmers and educating their coaches.
Off the water, he is Global Manager of the Oceanman international circuit, co-creator (with Dirk Cox) of the five-module Oceanman Open Water Coaches Certification, founder of Swimon events in Malaysia and the online platform openwatercoaching.com, former owner of Lovexswim and Tiendanatacion.com, and a former writer for Revista Open Swim magazine. He also coached Jorge Crivillés on his 8h29' crossing of Japan's Tsugaru Channel.
Career-defining swims
Signature swims
Six swims that trace a career spanning four continents — from the Strait of Gibraltar to the sacred Ganges.
India National OWS Competition · River Bhagirathi
Two-time overall champion (2016, 2017) of the world's longest annual open water race, plus runner-up in 2018 and a fourth place in 2023.
Best: 10h 57' 45"Strait of Gibraltar Relay · Elche C.N.
World-record relay crossing Tarifa–Peregil–Punta Acebuche in 2006, followed by a solo Gibraltar crossing in 2008 aged 27.
7h 50' (WR) · Solo 3h 12'Tabarca Marathon Swim · Alicante
Five-time winner of the Tabarca Island–Alicante crossing, setting the course record in 2016 that shaved nearly 20 minutes off his own best.
Record: 4h 48' 22"Clean Half Extreme Marathon · Hong Kong
Won the 10th edition in 2016 with the third-fastest time in the event's history.
3h 30' 32"Lake Zurich Marathon · Switzerland
Third overall at the 24th International Self-Transcendence Marathon-Schwimmen, Rapperswil to Zurich, in 2011.
7h 28' 22"Perhentian Island Marathon Swim · Malaysia
Co-organizer and six-time winner (2016, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024) of the race he helped bring to Pulau Perhentian Besar.
Best: 3h 42' 22"Race log · 2006 – 2025
Career results
Selected results across Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Greece, Croatia, Serbia, Poland, the Netherlands, France, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, India, Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia.
2024–25A golden season in Malaysia — four straight wins›
| 5th | PD Classic Swimathon · 2 km | 22' 44" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Jan 2025 |
| 1st | Putrajaya Swim Festival · 6 km | 1h 27' 41" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Oct 2024 |
| 1st | Perhentian Island Marathon Swim · 16 km | 3h 49' 19" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Sep 2024 |
| 1st | Langkawi Swimming Festival · 8 km | 2h 06' 39" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Jun 2024 |
| 1st | Kapas–Marang Int'l Swimathon · 6.5 km | 1h 24' 34" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · May 2024 |
| 2nd | Epic Island Adventure — 4 Islands · 6 km | 1h 34' 37" | 🇵🇭 Philippines · Mar 2024 |
| 3rd | Epic Island Adventure Certification · 8 km | 2h 00' 34" | 🇵🇭 Philippines · Mar 2024 |
2023Back on the Ganges, plus a Perhentian title defence›
| 2nd | Putrajaya Aquafestival Ultramarathon · 16 km (shortened to 13.5 km) | 3h 19' | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Oct |
| 1st | Perhentian Island Marathon Swim · 16 km | 3h 51' 18" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Oct |
| 4th | 77th India National OWS Competition · 81 km, River Bhagirathi | 11h 33' 52" | 🇮🇳 India · Sep |
| 2nd | Melaka Open Water Championships · 5 km | 1h 14' 29" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Jul |
| 4th | Langkawi Swim Festival · 8 km — 1st in 40–49 | 2h 07' 28" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Jun |
2022Return to racing and another Perhentian win›
| 1st | Perhentian Island Marathon Swim · 16 km | 3h 52' 43" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Oct |
| 6th | Port Dickson OWS-SUP Festival · 1.5 km — 1st in 40–49 | 19' 55" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Aug |
| 3rd | NeptuneX Open Water · 1.5 km, Port Dickson | 20' 29" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · May |
| 11th | Malaysian Open Water National Championships · 5 km — 3rd Senior | 1h 10' 03" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · May |
| 4th | Classic PD Thistle · 2 km — 1st in 40–49 | 29' 26" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · May |
| 4th | Kapas–Marang Swimathon · 6.5 km — 1st in 40–49 | 1h 38' 05" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Mar |
2019–20Ultraebre, the Philippines, and an Oceanman Krabi win›
| 1st | Half Oceanman Krabi · 5 km | 1h 07' | 🇹🇭 Thailand · Oct 2020 |
| 2nd | Port Dickson Open Water Challenge · 2 km | 26' 55" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Jan 2020 |
| 2nd | Perhentian Island Marathon Swim · 16 km | 3h 42' 22" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Oct 2019 |
| 2nd | V Caramoan Swim Challenge · 15 km (~16 km) | 3h 46' 00" | 🇵🇭 Philippines · Jul 2019 |
| 3rd | 5th Ultraebre Swim Marathon · 30.8 km | 5h 30' 02" | 🇪🇸 Spain · Jul 2019 |
2018WOWSA Man of the Year nomination season›
| 2nd | 1st Brunei Marathon Swim · 10 km (~8 km) | 1h 37' 28" | 🇧🇳 Brunei · Oct |
| 1st | Perhentian Island Marathon Swim · 16 km | 4h 07' | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Oct |
| 2nd | 75th India National OWS Competition · 81 km, River Bhagirathi | 11h 02' 56" | 🇮🇳 India · Aug |
| 2nd | Cofrentes Reservoir Swim · 10.5 km | 2h 21' 24" | 🇪🇸 Spain · Aug |
| 1st | Labuan Int'l Channel Cross Swim · 5.4 km, with Rupert Tan | 1h 19' 49" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Apr |
| 4th | Kapas–Marang Int'l Swimathon · 6.5 km — 1st age group | 1h 29' 12" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Apr |
2017Second Ganges 81 km title and a Penang record›
| 2nd | Thailand Triathlon Swimathon · 5.5 km, Koh Samed | 1h 16' 55" | 🇹🇭 Thailand · Dec |
| 1st | Thailand Swimathon Pattaya · 10 km | 2h 26' 41" | 🇹🇭 Thailand · Dec |
| 1st | Oceanman Langkawi · 10 km | 2h 53' 55" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Nov |
| 6th | Liberty Wave Open Water Swim · 4 km, East Coast Park | — | 🇸🇬 Singapore · Oct |
| 1st | 74th India National OWS Competition · 81 km, River Bhagirathi | 11h 07' 06" | 🇮🇳 India · Aug |
| 3rd | Tabarca Marathon Swim · 21 km | 5h 33' 06" | 🇪🇸 Spain · Jun |
| 2nd | Rotary Mariners · 7 km | 1h 36' 30" | 🇪🇸 Spain · Jun |
| 3rd | Pattaya Swimathon Series · 6 km | 1h 22' 06" | 🇹🇭 Thailand · May |
| 4th | Labuan Int'l Sea Challenge · 5.4 km | 1h 16' 07" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Apr |
| 1st | III Penang Int'l Channel Swim Crossing · 7.5 km NEW RECORD | 1h 36' 52" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Mar |
| 4th cat. | 27th Rottnest Channel Swim · 19.5 km | 5h 44' 08" | 🇦🇺 Australia · Feb |
2016Breakout year: Ganges 81 km, Tabarca record, Clean Half win›
| 1st | 10th Clean Half Extreme Marathon Swim · 15 km — 3rd best time ever | 3h 30' 32" | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong · Oct |
| 1st | 1st Perhentian Island Marathon Swim · 15 km | 4h 17' 20" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Sep |
| 1st | 73rd India National OWS Championship · 81 km, River Bhagirathi | 10h 57' 45" | 🇮🇳 India · Sep |
| 13th | 41st Faros Marathon Swim · 16 km, Hvar Island | 3h 38' 56" | 🇭🇷 Croatia · Aug |
| 3rd | 46th Toroneos Gulf Swimming Marathon · 26 km | 6h 19' 26" | 🇬🇷 Greece · Jul |
| 1st | V Mariners Tabarca · 10 km | 2h 24' 13" | 🇪🇸 Spain · Jul |
| 1st | V Tabarca Marathon Swim · 21 km COURSE RECORD | 4h 48' 22" | 🇪🇸 Spain · Jun |
| 1st | II Seaman Cabo de Palos–Hormigas Islands · 12 km | 2h 51' 22" | 🇪🇸 Spain · Jun |
| 4th | Labuan Int'l Sea Challenge · 5.4 km | 1h 11' 36" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Apr |
| 1st | I Seaman La Azohía–Puerto Marrón · 8 km | 1h 53' 56" | 🇪🇸 Spain · Apr |
| 1st | I Port Dickson Int'l Swimathon · 5 km | 1h 16' 56" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Mar |
| 1st | II Penang Int'l Channel Swim Crossing · 7.5 km NEW RECORD | 1h 40' 02" | 🇲🇾 Malaysia · Mar |
2015South America, the Amazon, and a Nahuel Huapi record›
| 10th | Oceanman Benidorm · 7.5 km | 1h 29' 43" | 🇪🇸 Spain · Oct |
| 3rd | II Défi des Îles · 23 km, Porquerolles–Port-Cros–Levant (charity for choroideremia) | 5h 47' | 🇫🇷 France · Oct |
| 3rd | II Menorca Swim · 10 km, Macarella–Son Xoriguer | 2h 14' 15" | 🇪🇸 Spain · Sep |
| 13th | 40th Faros Marathon Swim · 16 km, Hvar Island | 3h 36' 56" | 🇭🇷 Croatia · Aug |
| 13th | 46th Jarak–Šabac Marathon Swim · 19 km, Sava River | 3h 36' 50" | 🇷🇸 Serbia · Aug |
| 8th | II Singelswimtocht Breda · 7.5 km | 1h 41' 43" | 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Aug |
| 1st | I Cabo Palos–Hormigas Islands Challenge · 12 km | 2h 51' 13" | 🇪🇸 Spain · Jun |
| 4th | IV Oceanman Orta Lake · 14 km | 3h 08' 15" | 🇮🇹 Italy · Jun |
| 1st | IV Tabarca Marathon Swim · 21 km | 5h 21' 36" | 🇪🇸 Spain · Jun |
| 8th | I Rio Negro Challenge Amazonia · 30 km, Manaus | 6h 03' 21" | 🇧🇷 Brazil · May |
| 1st | X Nahuel Huapi Lake Crossing · 8 km in 11 °C water NEW RECORD | 1h 34' 44" | 🇦🇷 Argentina · Mar |
| 1st | III Yaguarón Challenge · 8 km | 53' 36" | 🇦🇷 Argentina · Feb |
2012–14Dominance on the Spanish Mediterranean circuit›
| 3rd | I Open Water Menorca Swim · 10 km | 2h 19' 58" | 🇪🇸 Spain · Sep 2014 |
| 11th | 39th Faros Marathon Swim · 16 km, Hvar Island | 3h 45' 14" | 🇭🇷 Croatia · Aug 2014 |
| 1st | Marathon Swim Cartagena–El Portús · 12 km | 2h 40' | 🇪🇸 Spain · Aug 2014 |
| 11th | 45th Int'l Jarak–Šabac Marathon Swim · 19 km | 2h 32' 08" | 🇷🇸 Serbia · Aug 2014 |
| 3rd | III Tabarca Marathon Swim · 21 km | 5h 07' | 🇪🇸 Spain · Jun 2014 |
| 1st | III Mariners Tabarca · 10 km | 2h 11' 15" | 🇪🇸 Spain · Jun 2014 |
| 13th | 38th Faros Marathon Swim · 16 km, Hvar Island | 3h 41' 55" | 🇭🇷 Croatia · Aug 2013 |
| 2nd | Valencian Regionals OWS Championships · 8.5 km, Peñíscola–Benicarló | 1h 55' 11" | 🇪🇸 Spain · Jul 2013 |
| 1st | Int'l Open Water Swim Cullera · 10 km | 2h 20' | 🇪🇸 Spain · Jun 2013 |
| 1st | II Mariners Tabarca · 10 km | 2h 17' 12" | 🇪🇸 Spain · Jun 2013 |
| 1st | II Tabarca Marathon Swim · 21 km | 5h 22' | 🇪🇸 Spain · Jun 2013 |
| 1st | 24th Messinian Gulf Swimming Marathon · 30 km, Kalamata–Stoupa | 7h 40' | 🇬🇷 Greece · Sep 2012 |
| 1st | I Mariners Tabarca · 10 km | 2h 20' | 🇪🇸 Spain · Jun 2012 |
| 1st | I Tabarca Marathon Swim · 21 km, Tabarca Island–Alicante | 5h 50' | 🇪🇸 Spain · May 2012 |
| Finish | Mar Menor Challenge · 23.5 km | 5h 35' | 🇪🇸 Spain · Apr 2012 |
2006–11Gibraltar crossings, Lake Zurich podium, first ultra wins›
| 1st | I Ultramaratón del Ebro · 27 km, Xerta–Amposta | 6h 00' | 🇪🇸 Spain · Aug 2011 |
| 3rd | 24th Self-Transcendence Marathon-Schwimmen · 26.4 km, Lake Zurich | 7h 28' 22" | 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Aug 2011 |
| 1st | I Charity Marathon Pool Swim (APNEA, 12 h) · 22.2 km | 12h | 🇪🇸 Spain · Jan 2011 |
| 13th | King of the Sea Europe, Lisbon · 5 km — 1st category | 1h 12' 37" | 🇵🇹 Portugal · May 2011 |
| WR | Islands Challenge Relay ×4 · 48.6 km, Tabarca–Benidorm Island WORLD RECORD | 11h 01' | 🇪🇸 Spain · Sep 2010 |
| Finish | Tabarca Challenge · 21 km, Tabarca Island–Alicante | 5h 16' | 🇪🇸 Spain · May 2010 |
| Solo | Strait of Gibraltar solo crossing · aged 27 | 3h 12' | 🇪🇸/🇲🇦 Jun 2008 |
| WR | Gibraltar Strait Relay (Elche C.N.) · 45 km, Tarifa–Peregil–Pta. Acebuche WORLD RECORD | 7h 50' | 🇪🇸/🇲🇦 Aug 2006 |
Recognition
2018 WOWSA Man of the Year nominee
The World Open Water Swimming Association nominated him for the 2018 World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year, citing his dual impact as athlete and builder of the sport: podium finishes at the 81 km Ganges race and the Perhentian Island Marathon Swim, his role growing the Oceanman circuit to 24 countries as its Global Manager, his popular coaching in Malaysia, and the online open water coaching platform he created to popularize the sport across Southeast Asia. WOWSA praised his "passion and knowledge of the sport" and his ubiquitous presence at races across Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh and India.
In the water and on the podium
Gallery
Longest open water swimming race in the world
73rd India National Open Water Swimming Competition — 81 km
Read more
External links
- Openwaterpedia profile (original source)
- Marathon Swimmers Federation bio
- Jose Luis Larrosa sets record at Tabarca Marathon Swim
- Swimming in the Ganges, the sacred river
- 74 races of 81 km down the River Bhagirathi
- Jose Luis Larrosa wins Perhentian Island Marathon Swim
- Moving the sport in Malaysia
- Aquapreneur takes time to swim around the world
- Oceanman International Open Water Circuit
- Tabarca Marathon Swim
- Personal blog
- World Open Water Swimming Association
