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.

Turkey Hosts Youth Finswimming Championship and National Team Trials 2026 in Sakarya - Finswimmer Magazine

The Turkish Underwater Sports Federation (TSSF) is preparing to host the Youth Inter-Club Turkish Finswimming Championship and National Team Trials in Sakarya from February 19-22, 2026. This major national competition will serve as both a championship event and crucial trials for selecting Turkey’s national finswimming team.

Venue and Schedule

The championship will take place at the GSİM Olympic Swimming Pool in Sakarya across four intensive days of competition. The event brings together young finswimmers from categories B, C, and D, who will compete together with unified evaluation and awards.

Location: Sakarya, Adapazarı, Provincia di Sakarya, Marmara Region, 54000, Turchia

Competition Schedule:

Thursday, February 19:

Morning: Equipment inspection and warm-up (10:00-13:00)
Document submission deadline (10:00-12:00)
Afternoon session starts at 14:00

Friday, February 20:

Morning session begins at 09:30
Opening ceremony (16:10-16:50)
Evening session starts at 17:00

Saturday, February 21:

Morning session at 09:30
Evening session at 16:30
Medal ceremony

Sunday, February 22:

Morning session at 09:00
Evening session timing to be announced
Closing ceremony and final medal presentations

Competition Events

The championship features a comprehensive program of 17 different events across multiple disciplines:

Surface Swimming Events:

50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m (Men and Women)

Bi-Fins Events:

50m, 100m, 200m, 400m (Men and Women)

Scuba Events:

100m, 200m (Men and Women, Categories B-C)

Apnea Event:

50m Immersion (Men and Women, Categories B-C)

Relay Events:

4x100m Bi-Fins (Men and Women)
4x200m Surface (Men and Women)
4x100m Surface (Men and Women)
4x100m Mixed (Bi-Fins and Surface, Men and Women)

Registration and Entry Requirements

Clubs must complete a multi-step registration process with strict deadlines:

Key Dates:

February 13 (Friday, 17:00): Final application deadline
February 14 (Saturday): Publication of control lists
February 16 (Monday, 17:00): Final correction deadline
February 17 (Tuesday): Publication of start lists

Only clubs and individual athletes who have completed their 2026 season accreditation procedures may participate. Registration requires submission of:

Club Participation Application Form
Athlete Entry Form (must be completed in capital letters)
Parental consent forms for athletes under 18 competing in immersion and scuba events

All documents must be submitted to designated TSSF email addresses by the specified deadlines. No changes will be accepted after February 16 at 17:00.

Participation Conditions

Document Requirements: Clubs must submit their team lists (approved by their Youth and Sports Provincial Directorates) and athlete licenses by 12:00 on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Clubs failing to submit these documents will not be admitted to the competition.

Competition Limits:

Each athlete may compete in a maximum of 2 individual events per day
Maximum of 5 individual events throughout the entire championship (excluding relay events)

Equipment Control: All equipment will be inspected by the chief referee committee on Thursday, February 19, from 10:00-13:00. Only equipment meeting CMAS and TSSF standards will be approved. Additional inspections may occur up to one hour before each session begins.

Financial Support

The federation provides travel allowances (harcırah) for qualifying clubs:

For clubs ranked 1-6:

Clubs with both men’s and women’s teams: Full allowance for 4 female athletes, 4 male athletes, 1 coach, and 1 administrator (maximum 10 people)
Clubs with single-gender teams: Full allowance for 4 athletes, 1 coach or 1 administrator (maximum 5 people)

Individual athletes and clubs from Sakarya province are not eligible for travel allowances. Other clubs not meeting the criteria may apply to their provincial Youth and Sports Directorates for potential support.

Discipline and Sportsmanship

The championship operates under strict discipline regulations outlined in the Turkish Underwater Sports Federation Discipline Instructions. Violations are taken seriously and include:

Prohibited Actions:

Insults, threats, or physical assault against referees, officials, or participants
Disruptive behavior within the competition area
Violations of pool or underwater racing rules
Endangering other athletes’ safety
False declarations of scores, records, or results
Anti-doping violations (subject to WADA, CMAS, and national regulations)
Unauthorized recording or broadcasting

Enforcement: The Competition Observer and Chief Referee (or Chief Referee alone if no observer is assigned) are authorized to document violations and, when necessary, implement provisional measures including immediate suspension from competition. Athletes or officials under provisional suspension are barred from all competitions until a final Discipline Committee decision is reached.

Media and Personal Data

Recording Restrictions: Underwater and surface filming is strictly prohibited without written permission from TSSF. Only authorized federation personnel may conduct such recording. Violators face administrative and disciplinary action.

Data Protection: Personal data of participants is processed in accordance with Law No. 6698 on Protection of Personal Data, strictly for purposes of fulfilling legal obligations, conducting sports activities, and ensuring organizational security. Participants retain their rights under Article 11 of the law.

Social Media Policy: While criticism and freedom of expression are respected, deliberately false or reckless statements that damage the reputation of the federation, athletes, referees, or competitions may result in disciplinary investigations.

Competition Authority

The championship follows TSSF Finswimming Special Competition Rules and TSSF Finswimming General Competition Rules. For matters not covered in these regulations, CMAS (World Underwater Federation) Finswimming Rules apply. The Turkish Underwater Sports Federation Presidency reserves the right to modify competition dates and locations as necessary.

Relay Team Submissions

All relay team rosters must be submitted in writing to the secretariat on the first day of the championship. Any changes to relay compositions must be communicated to the Chief Referee’s office via petition at least one session before the scheduled relay event.

Significance of the Event

This championship represents a crucial opportunity for Turkey’s young finswimming talent. Beyond the competitive aspects and national titles at stake, the event serves as official trials for national team selection, making it a pivotal moment in the careers of participating athletes. The multi-category format ensures broad participation while maintaining high competitive standards across all age groups.

The Turkish federation’s comprehensive organization, strict safety protocols, and clear disciplinary framework demonstrate the country’s commitment to developing finswimming at the youth level while maintaining international standards of competition and athlete welfare.

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