Finswimming
Monofin Skorjenko
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| Highest governing body | CMAS |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | no |
| Mixed gender | Yes, but usually in separate events |
| Type | Aquatic, indoor, outdoor |
| Equipment | diving mask, snorkel, fins, open circuit scuba set |
| Venue | swimming pool, open water |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | International |
| Olympic | no demonstration events as of July 2013. |
Finswimming is an underwater sport consisting of four techniques involving swimming with the use of fins either on the water's surface using a snorkel with either monofins or bifins (i.e. one fin for each foot) or underwater with monofin either by holding one's breath or using open circuit scuba diving equipment. Events exist over distances similar to swimming competitions for both swimming pool and open water venues. Competition at world and continental level is organised by the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS). The sport's first world championship was held in 1976. It also has been featured at the World Games as a trend sport since 1981 and was demonstrated at the 2015 European Games in June 2015.
Competitors are described within the International Rules as 'swimmers' rather than as finswimmers or divers.
Competition is divided in two classes: swimming pool and long distance (also called open water).
A swimming pool must be 50 m long by 21 m wide and 1.8 m deep, i.e. an Olympic-size swimming pool (also known as a long course pool) suitable for the holding of swimming races for either the Olympic Games and a FINA world championships. The International Rules do not permit the use of 25m length pools (known as short course) although these are used in regional and national competition.
Long distance sites include both the sea and natural water bodies such as freshwater rivers and lakes. Site selection criteria include 'low current and tides' and water quality 'appropriate for swimming' as certified by a local authority. The site, when in use for competition, will be marked by buoys, patrolled by safety boats and will have observation points (or additional boats) for judges to oversee any turns present in the course.
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Wikipedia