Finswimming Championship of Balakovo Municipal District 2024

On October 5, 2024, the Championship of Balakovo Municipal District in underwater sports (finswimming) was held in the Albatross swimming pool, located in Balakovo, Saratov Region. The event, organized in a 50-meter pool, featured three key disciplines: 100 meters bi-fins (100bf), 50 meters apnea (50ap), and 50 meters surface swimming (50sf). The competition gathered athletes from various age categories, showcasing emerging talent in the underwater sports community.

50 Meters Surface Swimming (50sf)

The surface swimming event for the youngest age group, girls born in 2016 and younger, saw a strong performance by Ulyana Goryacheva, who claimed first place with a time of 35.06 seconds. Ulyana Kuzmina followed closely behind, finishing in 37.30 seconds, while Anastasia Sevryukova rounded out the top three with a time of 37.45 seconds.

In the boys’ 2016 and younger category, Matvey Kalinin delivered an impressive performance, winning the race in 32.66 seconds. He was followed by Timur Khafizov, who completed the 50 meters in 36.44 seconds, and Vladislav Gagarin, who finished in 37.71 seconds.

The 2014-2015 age group also had some exciting races. For the girls, Varvara Amangaliyeva took first place with a time of 32.31 seconds, and Svetlana Artamonova followed with a time of 33.13 seconds. Victoria Tyshik claimed third place in 33.64 seconds. Among the boys, Arseniy Vlasov led the field with a time of 29.67 seconds, while Semyon Zhuravlyov and Dmitry Andreyev finished second and third with times of 30.02 and 30.50 seconds, respectively.

50 Meters Apnea (50ap)

In the apnea (50ap) event, where swimmers race underwater without surfacing, the competition was fierce across all age groups. For girls born in 2012-2013, Darya Zhelnova set the pace with a strong 21.66-second finish, earning her the gold. Sofya Antipova took second place with a time of 23.25 seconds, and Varvara Platonova completed the podium with a time of 25.69 seconds.

The boys’ 2012-2013 age group saw a standout performance from Yegor Chernov, who completed the apnea race in 20.03 seconds, securing first place. Bogdan Kulikov followed with a time of 23.56 seconds, and Vladislav Yegorov claimed third with a time of 24.18 seconds.

For the older female athletes born in 2009 and earlier, Anastasia Romanova demonstrated her prowess in the sport, finishing in 19.52 seconds to take the top spot. Darya Kuznetsova followed closely, securing second place with a time of 21.00 seconds, while Victoria Shumilina earned third place with a finish time of 22.84 seconds. On the men’s side, Alexey Zlobin led the field with a time of 17.02 seconds, followed by Yevgeny Boldanov in 18.03 seconds, and Ilya Sevostyanov in 18.50 seconds.

100 Meters Bi-Fins (100bf)

The bi-fins discipline, which requires athletes to use two fins instead of the single monofin, tested the endurance and speed of the swimmers. In the girls’ 2014-2015 category, Victoria Tyshik showcased her strength, winning the race with a time of 1:17.10. Varvara Amangaliyeva took second place in 1:21.88, and Svetlana Artamonova followed closely with a time of 1:23.68.

Among the boys in the same age category, Alexander Oldukov led the pack with a time of 1:12.10, followed by Timofey Kuchuk in 1:12.66, and Platon Karpukhov, who claimed third place in 1:14.62.

For the older age groups, the 100bf event saw some excellent performances. In the girls’ 2012-2013 category, Darya Zhelnova once again claimed victory with a time of 1:00.88, securing her second gold of the event. Sofya Antipova and Varvara Platonova finished second and third with times of 1:02.84 and 1:04.03, respectively. In the boys’ category, Yegor Chernov dominated with a time of 59.12 seconds, while Vladislav Yegorov and Vsevolod Bezverhov rounded out the top three with times of 1:02.07 and 1:04.61, respectively.

Conclusion

The Championship of Balakovo Municipal District in underwater sports highlighted the strength and talent of young athletes in finswimming, with standout performances across all disciplines and age groups. The event not only demonstrated the growing popularity of finswimming in the region but also showcased the potential of these young athletes to compete at higher levels in the sport. The combination of speed, endurance, and technique was on full display, making the Championship a memorable and exciting event for all participants and spectators.