ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Founders Call It A Day & New Race Management Team Appointed

In a shock announcement, Michael Lemmel and Mats Skott founders of ÖTILLÖ Swimrun and founders of the sport of swimrun have ‘ceased their operational role’ with immediate effect with ÖTILLÖ.

The news was announced on a short post from the facebook page of Michael and Mats:

17 years is a long time. We no longer work for ÖTILLÖ. Thank you Mats Skott for all the fantastic things we have created together.

Over the past years we have created a beautiful sport, an amazing brand and an exceptional community together with our staff, our media teams, our sponsors, our volunteers and our incredible racers.

Mats and I wish you god speed! Fly with the wind and never stop dreaming.

It is now the responsibility of the community to make something good out of this.

With love forever to Swimrun

Thank you Michael & Mats

There is an overall feeling of gratitude from the swimrun community of the massive contribution both men and their team have made to establishing and growing a new sport into a worldwide phenomena.

In 2006 they put on the first ever race with just 22 participants. In 2023, here we are with hundreds or races worldwide and thousands of swimrunners as a result.

They have done so with grace, enthusiasm and energy. We wish them all the best and hope both of them remain as guiding figures in the sport of swimrun.

New leadership

Staffan Björklund a stalwart of the ÖTILLÖ race series has been appointed Race Director. In a statement issued from ÖTILLÖ, Staffan said:

“To me, this role is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I have been connected to the sport of Swimrun from the very beginning, I love the sport and the community, I enjoy organizing races, and therefore, working for ÖTILLÖ is closing a circle for me. I am excited to take on this new role and to grow and further develop our sport.

ÖTILLÖ have confirmed they are running all Swedish races: ÖTILLÖ Utö, ÖTILLÖ Gothenburg, the Final 15K, and ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship.

The future

This will come as a big surprise to many in the swimrun community. Michael and Mats have a loyal following and the ÖTILLÖ brand and Michael and Mats are in many was a symbiosis relationship.

Ultimately the wild and adventurous races and a supportive and friendly culture are what defines ÖTILLÖ. We look forward to seeing and hearing how this new chapter takes shape.

For now, tack Michael and Mats.