Finswimming: from Leonardo da Vinci to FISU University World Cup

Some 500 years after Leonardo da Vinci thought about placing auxiliary means at the feet to advance horizontally in water, the first edition of the FISU University World Cup Finswimming will be held in Lignano Sabbiadoro (Udine, Italia) on 1st and 2nd of April 2022.

With its unique structure equipped with state-of-the-art sports facilities and hotels that can accommodate more than three thousand people, the local Bella Italia Sports Village regularly hosts finswimming events at both national and international levels.

The discipline appeared for the first time in a world championship in 1976. It exists for both swimming pool and open water venues. The FISU University World Cup will be held in a swimming pool.

Surface finswimming (SF) is swimming on the surface of the water using mask, snorkel, and monofins. Swimmers must remain on the surface of the water at all times for the duration of the race except when starting or make a turn at the end of a swimming pool.

Apnea finswimming (AP) is underwater swimming in a swimming pool using a mask, monofins and holding one’s breath. AP races are held for the distance of 50m. A swimmer’s face must be immersed for the duration of the race otherwise he/she risks disqualification.

Immersion finswimming (BF) is using mask, monofins and underwater breathing apparatus conducted in a swimming pool. It cannot be exchanged or abandoned during a race. A swimmer’s face must be immersed for the duration of the race or risk disqualification.

Some of the event’s big favorites include the Ukrainian swimmer Oleksii Zakharov (picture), 400m SF and 800m SF 2021 World Champion, and 200 SF bronze medalist, his compatriot Viktor Riepin, 2021 bronze medalist in 4×100 BF mixed, and the Italian Consuelo Dametto, who is the current world champion in open water finswimming.    

A total of 91 student-athletes (48 men and 43 women) and 26 officials from 55 universities representing 15 countries will participate in the first edition of the FISU University World Cup Finswimming.

FISU University World Cups embrace a unique university-versus-university format instead of national delegations.

The programme at a glance:

31 March

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Opening Ceremony

1 April

Morning: 50m AP Women ; 50m BF Women ; 100m SF Men ; 100m BF Men; 200m SF Women ; 200m BF Women; 400m SF Men ; 400m BF Men ; 800m SF Women slow heats ;

Afternoon: 50m AP Women final ; 50m BF Women final ; 100m SF Men final ; 100m BF Men final ; 200m SF Women final ; 200m BF Women final ; 400m SF Men final ; 400m BF Men final ; 800m SF Women fast heat ;

2 April

Morning: 50m AP Men ; 50m BF Men ; 100m SF Women ; 100m BF Women ; 200m SF Men ; 200m BF Men ; 400m SF Women ; 400m BF Women ; 800m SF Men slow heats ;

Afternoon: 50m AP Men final ; 50m BF Men final ; 100m SF Women final ; 100m BF Women final ; 200M SF Men final ; 200M BF Men final ; 400m SF Women final ; 400m BF Women final ; 800m SF Men fast heat ;

The whole event can be followed live on