Finswimmers waiting for the World Games 2025

The World Games 2025 will bring together the best athletes from non-Olympic sports, and finswimming will once again be featured prominently. Finswimming, a dynamic and high-speed aquatic sport where competitors use fins and snorkels to swim both underwater and on the surface, has been part of the World Games since 1981. Over the years, this sport has grown in popularity, showcasing incredible athleticism and competition at the highest levels.

• Finswimming in the World Games

Finswimming has had a consistent presence in the World Games, starting with its debut at the inaugural event in 1981 in Santa Clara, USA. Since then, it has appeared in multiple editions, including the most recent games in 2022, held in Birmingham, Alabama. In Birmingham, German swimmer Max Poschart dominated the men’s competition, taking gold in multiple events, including the 100m surface race. On the women’s side, the competition was equally fierce, with top athletes from around the globe displaying their prowess.

The inclusion of finswimming in the World Games has been a significant milestone for the sport, allowing it to gain exposure on an international stage. The World Games provide a unique opportunity for finswimmers to compete in an elite, multi-sport environment, raising the profile of this relatively niche underwater discipline.

• CMAS and the World Games Finswimming Ranking

The CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques) is the governing body for finswimming and other underwater sports. It plays a critical role in organizing and promoting finswimming events worldwide, including the ranking system used to track the top athletes leading up to major competitions like the World Games.

As of September 2024, the CMAS World Games Finswimming Ranking V5 highlights the top performers in various finswimming categories, such as 50m apnea, 100m surface, and bi-fins events. This ranking is used to determine the athletes who will be invited to compete in prestigious competitions like the World Games.

For example, the current top-ranked finswimmers in the men’s 50m apnea category are Stepan Vorobyev from Russia and Zhang Siqian from China, while in the women’s category, Hu Yaoyao from China holds the fastest time. These rankings not only reflect current performances but also play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the sport, as they influence selections for international competitions.

• Events and Format in Finswimming

In the World Games, finswimming events typically cover a range of distances and disciplines, both on the surface and underwater. The primary events include:

– 50m Apnea (AP)**: A sprint event where athletes hold their breath and swim as fast as possible underwater.
– 100m, 200m, and 400m Surface (SF)**: Swimmers use a monofin and snorkel to swim on the surface, achieving remarkable speeds.
– Bi-fins Events (BF)**: These races involve using two fins instead of a monofin, adding another layer of technicality and skill to the competition.

The 2025 World Games will likely follow a similar format, providing finswimmers with opportunities to showcase their skills in short and long-distance races, with athletes competing for gold, silver, and bronze medals.

• Key Contenders for the 2025 World Games

While it is too early to predict the full list of athletes who will compete in the 2025 edition, the current CMAS rankings offer a glimpse into who might emerge as top contenders. Some of the athletes leading the pack in the 2024 CMAS rankings are expected to perform well in the 2025 World Games, given their recent successes and consistent performances in international competitions.

For instance, Max Poschart from Germany, who has dominated the men’s surface races in recent years, is expected to continue his winning streak. Meanwhile, in the women’s categories, athletes like Hu Yaoyao from China are showing strong promise based on their impressive times in the apnea events. These athletes have consistently topped the rankings and will be ones to watch in 2025 (source).

• The Future of Finswimming and Its Impact

The inclusion of finswimming in high-profile competitions like the World Games has been essential for the sport’s growth. While finswimming may not yet have the widespread recognition of other aquatic sports like swimming or water polo, its popularity is steadily rising. The fast-paced nature of the races, combined with the technical skills required to master fins and snorkels, makes it a thrilling sport for both competitors and spectators.

Moreover, the increasing accessibility of finswimming at various levels—from youth programs to elite international competitions—means that more athletes are getting involved in the sport. This grassroots development is essential for ensuring the sport’s long-term success and may eventually lead to finswimming being considered for inclusion in the Olympic Games, a long-term goal of many within the finswimming community.

• Conclusion

The 2025 World Games will be a landmark event for finswimming, showcasing the world’s best athletes in this exhilarating underwater sport. With the continued support of CMAS and the growing international interest in finswimming, the sport is poised to reach new heights in the coming years. The World Games provide a unique platform for finswimmers to demonstrate their abilities on the global stage, and with the upcoming 2025 edition, we can expect thrilling races, record-breaking performances, and a further elevation of the sport’s profile.

As the athletes prepare for the competition, all eyes will be on the CMAS rankings to see who will qualify and eventually take home the medals. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the world of finswimming, the 2025 World Games are sure to be a spectacle worth watching.

You can find the 5th version of the World Games ranking in Finswimming.