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.

Russia to Host Youth Underwater Sports Championship in Pervouralsk This May

Young finswimmers from across Russia descend on the Urals for a national title showdown

Russia’s underwater sports community is gearing up for one of its most important youth competitions of the year. The Russian Youth Championship in Underwater Sports — covering finswimming, classical finswimming, and underwater swimming — is set to take place from May 8–12, 2026, in the city of Pervouralsk, Sverdlovsk Region. The competition is open to boys and girls aged 12–13 years (born in 2013 or 2014).

Location: Pervoural'sk, муниципальный округ Первоуральск, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Ural Federal District, Russia

The Venue

The event will be held at the DVVS swimming pool of the PMBU FKiS “Start” sports facility, located at Prospekt Ilyicha 2-A in Pervouralsk. The pool is a standard 50-meter, 8-lane competition facility, registered in the national All-Russian Sports Facilities Registry, and equipped with an electronic timing system. Participating teams will be accommodated at the Pervouralsk Hotel and the Gagarin Sports Complex (FOK Gagarinsky).

Organizers and Governing Bodies

The championship is organized by the Russian Underwater Sports Federation (FPSR) and the Russian Ministry of Sport, and is part of the official national sports calendar for 2026. The local organizing effort is led by:

The Ministry of Physical Culture and Sport of Sverdlovsk Region
The State Autonomous Institution of Sverdlovsk Region “Center for the Organization of Sports Events” (GAU TsSM)
The Sverdlovsk Regional Underwater Sports Federation

Contact for local organizing matters is Vladislav Gennadyevich Petrov at petrovsfps@mail.ru.

Who Can Compete

Athletes must be registered members of their regional Russian Federation sports teams and hold a minimum third-level sports classification rank. Each region may enter up to 25 boys and 25 girls, with the host region (Sverdlovsk) permitted a larger delegation of up to 30 boys and 30 girls. Each team may also bring up to 3 coaches and 3 judges, capping delegations at 56 participants (65 for the host region).

Notably, in line with a March 2025 Russian Ministry of Sport directive, no entry fees may be charged to athletes under 18.

Competition Program

The three-day competitive schedule runs from May 9–11, with races beginning at 10:00 AM each day. The full program includes:

May 9

Finswimming 100m
Classical Finswimming 100m
Finswimming 800m
Classical Finswimming Mixed 4×100m Relay

May 10

Finswimming 50m
Classical Finswimming 50m
Finswimming 200m
Classical Finswimming 200m
Underwater Swimming 100m
Finswimming Mixed 4×50m Relay

May 11

Finswimming 400m
Classical Finswimming 400m
Finswimming 4×100m Relay

All events are run as direct finals — no preliminary heats. Individual events are contested separately for boys and girls, while mixed relays are open to combined teams.

What’s at Stake

Beyond medals and prestige, the championship serves a vital national purpose: identifying talent for Russia’s national youth teams ahead of international competition. Results are used to compile candidate lists for national squad selection and to build the country’s pipeline of future elite athletes.

Top finishers in individual events receive medals and diplomas from the Russian Ministry of Sport. The top three regional teams in the overall standings earn commemorative trophies from the organizing body, with additional prizes possible from the FPSR and local sponsors.

Anti-Doping and Safety

The event operates under the full framework of Russia’s national anti-doping rules, administered by RUSADA (the Russian Anti-Doping Agency). Athletes and coaches are required to have completed the online “Sport Values” or “Anti-Doping” certification course and hold a valid 2026 RUSADA certificate. Any athlete or official under an active suspension is barred from participation in any capacity.

All participants must carry personal accident insurance and present valid medical clearance from a licensed sports medicine physician. Teams must also be registered in the FPSR national athlete database prior to the event.

Protests and Disputes

Teams wishing to contest a result may file a formal protest within 30 minutes of an announced result. A filing fee of 4,000 rubles applies, refundable if the protest is upheld. Any broader disputes arising from the competition are referred to the National Center for Sports Arbitration, whose decisions are final and binding.

The championship is one of several national underwater sports events on the 2026 Russian calendar and reflects the FPSR’s ongoing commitment to growing the sport among younger generations across the country.

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