Finswimming

Việt Nam topped the World Cup Finswimming with 26 gold medals in Thailand. Photo HCMC Finswimming

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam competitors had no worthy rivals at the World Cup Finswimming Round Swimming Pool, which closed in Phuket, Thailand on September 5.

Finswimming is an underwater sport consisting of four techniques involving swimming with the use of fins either on the water's surface using a snorkel with either monofins or bifins or underwater with monofin either by holding one's breath or using open circuit scuba diving equipment.

After three days of competition, the Vietnamese team secured 26 golds, more than half of the 50 available, 11 silvers and five bronzes at the Sports Complex PSU Phuket.

All 18 finswimmers sent to the competition went home with medals.

Among them, Nguyễn Thành Lộc made a hattrick with his No 1 position in the men's over-18 50m, 100m and 4x100m Surface. He also earned a bronze in the over-18 Apnoea.

His female teammate Phạm Thị Thu also grabbed three titles in the over-18 50m and 100m Surface and Mixed 4x100m Surface. She finished second in the women's 50m Apnoea and over-18 4x100m.

Other multi-time gold medallists included Lưu Nguyễn Đức Tâm, Đỗ Đình Toàn, Nguyễn Ngọc Trung Chinh and Nguyễn Thị Thảo.

The result made Việt Nam the top delegation in the medal tally which listed 15 countries and territories. 

Indonesia came second with five golds, seven silvers and nine bronzes. Host Thailand stood at third at one gold, 11 silvers and 13 bronzes.

These three countries were also top three at the 31st SEA Games in Hà Nội in May.

The 2022 Finswimming World Cup has different stages. The first one was in February in Hungary. Then it came to Italy, Germany and the US before coming to Thailand.

Việt Nam only took part in the last stage.

The final will be held in Poland on October 28-30. VNS