Finswimming is one of the most exciting water sport ever. Finswimming is a sport belonging to the aquatic specialties which, using specific equipment (monofin, fins, snorkel or cylinders) allows the athlete to reach much higher speeds than swimming. There are indoor (swimming pools) and open water (sea, lake, rivers) championships.

To which federation belongs Finswimming?

The international federation to which fin swimming belongs is CMAS, the Confédération Mondial des Activités Subaquatiques, which is part of the ARISF, and is a discipline recognized by the IOC.

Is there an age limit to join Finswimming?

Finswimming is suitable for any age . In fact, there are competitions for very young people, for children and adults and for veterans, over 25 years old.

How can I find a Finswimming club?

You can find Finswimming clubs easily, just looking on the internet.

How can i stay updated with Finswimming News?

Finswimmer Magazine is the most comprehensive web site about Finswimming in which you can find events, updates and everything about Finswimming.

Balakovo Hosts Municipal Underwater Sports Championship Dedicated to National Unity - Finswimmer Magazine

On March 21, 2026, the city of Balakovo hosted the “Balakovo Municipal District Underwater Sports Championship,” held at the 50-meter pool of the Albatros Sports School. The competition was dedicated to the “Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia,” emphasizing both athletic development and social cohesion through sport.

A Youth-Focused Competition

The event featured finswimming and classical finswimming disciplines, along with distance diving events. A defining characteristic of the competition was the strong participation of young athletes, many born between 2010 and 2018, highlighting the grassroots development of underwater sports in the region.

Location: Balakovo, городское поселение Балаково, Balakovsky District, Oblast' di Saratov, Circondario federale del Volga, Russia

Dozens of competitors from multiple local training groups and coaches took part, creating a vibrant and competitive environment across all age categories

Highlights from the Competition

Several athletes stood out with strong performances across different disciplines:

Anastasia Romanova delivered one of the top performances among senior athletes, winning:
- 50m finswimming (21.65)
- 50m diving (19.64)
In the men’s category, Evgeniy Boldanov secured victory in the 50m finswimming event with an impressive time of 18.11, confirming his high competitive level
Among younger athletes:
- Stepan Shabalin dominated the boys’ 2014–2015 category, winning both diving and finswimming events with top times (10.34 in diving and 24.66 in finswimming)
- Ulyana Kuzmina claimed first place in the youngest girls’ finswimming category, demonstrating promising early talent
In classical fins events:
- Dana Lebedeva took first place in the girls’ 2014–2015 category (26.58)
- Egor Tokarev led the boys’ 2010–2011 category with a time of 22.73

Strong Participation Across Clubs

The results underline the depth of participation from various coaching groups, including those led by Knyazeva M.I., Romanova A.S., Korshunova O.V., and Sergin A.P., all of whom contributed significantly to athlete development and competition success.

The diversity of participants and consistent results across age groups reflect a well-structured local training system and a strong emphasis on youth engagement.

Development and Future Outlook

The Balakovo Municipal Championship serves as an important stepping stone for young finswimmers, providing early competitive experience and a pathway toward regional and national events.

With a large base of emerging talent and active coaching programs, the Saratov Region continues to strengthen its position in underwater sports development.

Conclusion

The 2026 edition of the Balakovo Municipal District Underwater Sports Championship successfully combined competition, youth development, and the broader message of unity. The event not only showcased current talent but also reinforced the importance of grassroots sport in building future generations of athletes.

RESULTS PDF