Past Events
Live Events
Next Events
World Clubs
Add your Finswimming Club to our map!
Join @finswimmer Telegram Channel!
Barcelona to Host International Memorial “José Luis Ariño” in Place of Canceled Finswimming World Cup Round
Following the cancellation of the Finswimming World Cup round originally scheduled to take place in Barcelona, the city will nevertheless remain a focal point of the international finswimming calendar during the same weekend. On Saturday, 7 February 2026, the V Memorial Internacional Ciutat de Barcelona – José Luis Ariño will be held at the Club Natació Barcelona, offering athletes an important competitive opportunity and preserving the city’s strong connection to elite underwater sports.
The event, organized under the aegis of the Federació Catalana d’Activitats Subaquàtiques (FECDAS) with the support of the local sporting community, will take place in a 50-meter pool and is expected to attract high-level national and international competitors across multiple finswimming disciplines.
A Meaningful Sporting Alternative
Although the World Cup round could not be staged as planned, the Memorial Internacional Ciutat de Barcelona provides athletes, coaches, and teams with a valuable alternative competition in the same time window. The meeting is structured as a compact but technically complete event, allowing swimmers to test their performance, maintain competitive rhythm, and achieve qualifying times in a high-standard environment.
The program includes races in surface finswimming, bi-fins, and apnea, covering sprint and middle-distance events for both women and men. Scheduled races include 50 m, 100 m, 200 m, and 400 m surface, 50 m, 100 m, and 200 m bi-fins, as well as the 50 m apnea, ensuring broad technical representation across specialties.
Warm-up is scheduled from 15:00 to 16:00, followed by the competition session, in line with international organizational standards.
Honoring José Luis Ariño
Beyond its sporting significance, the event carries deep symbolic value. The memorial is dedicated to José Luis Ariño Gallardo, a highly respected figure in Catalan finswimming, particularly known for his long-standing contribution in the arbitral and institutional spheres of FECDAS.
Throughout his career, Ariño was recognized for his unwavering commitment to impartiality, rigor, and integrity, becoming a reference point for athletes, coaches, officials, and clubs alike. His vision of officiating—rooted in respect for the rules, absolute fairness, and the defense of fair play—left a lasting mark on the discipline.
Equally important was his passion for finswimming itself. Ariño actively supported competitions, development initiatives, and structural improvements aimed at strengthening the sport’s foundations in Catalonia. The memorial that bears his name stands as a permanent tribute to these values and to the principles that continue to guide finswimming: equity, commitment, and passion for sport.
Barcelona Remains at the Heart of Finswimming
While the absence of a World Cup round is undoubtedly disappointing, the organization of the V Memorial Internacional Ciutat de Barcelona ensures that the city continues to play a central role in the international finswimming landscape. The event reinforces Barcelona’s reputation as a reliable host for high-quality underwater sports competitions and offers the global finswimming community a meaningful gathering point during the same weekend.
For athletes and fans alike, the Memorial José Luis Ariño will not only be a competition, but also a moment of remembrance, continuity, and shared commitment to the future of finswimming.
