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Hello Nicola, I think that everybody in the Finswimming World know you, it’s two or three years you follow most important International Competitions for AM . Tell us when and why did you choose to start it. Are you satisfied of your Web Site?
I started accidentally, registering in the forum Apnea Magazine and I noticed that there was talks about Finswimming, but no one used to write anything into the homepage which is surely a great promotional way for the forum. Although the site is only in Italian is certainly the World’s most watched portal dedicated to diving and differs from the others especially for the quality of its content. Slowly I started to send my contributions, then I got into the Editorial Section and this year I have even been supported economically to follow the World Championships in St. Petersburg. I’ll never stop thanking AM for his availability, space and resources that gives me and to the finswimming. In my small way, I think I did a good job. First: because in the World there are not in-depth articles on our sport but only some occasional commentary. Second: because we have moved far from classic articles commentary to the more difficult initiatives but also more rewarding, as the TV ONLINE of the major international competitions.

What is your main job? And how do you mix your work and your hobbies like practice sports and manage your Web Site?
I am a college student, in the summer I work regularly in the pool and in winter only occasionally. The “journalism” I make is not so difficult to manage. In AM we are all volunteers, no one has time limits. Here because I take this opportunity to say that if someone wants to send their contributions, we are always open. If you know what to write and know the language in a couple of hours you can produce a perfect article. Following events as World and European Champs is more challenging but however I consider it a holiday because it gives me the opportunity to travel the world, stay with friends and follow the sport I love at its best racing.

What do you like and what do you don’t like in the Finswimming World?
As athlete, avoiding the classic speeches such as “I like the speed etc. etc.” I would say that the value of finswimming is also her fault: has a more human dimension, I mean that competition is not still comparable to the other sports where if you want to excel you have to be aprofessionals athlete. This is an advantage because it avoids many risks of professionals but is also a limit because so many athletes are forced to leave the sport very soon. We say that anyway in our discipline is still quite clear that those who swim do so only or almost only for his passion. Not little!

When did you discover Finswimming? Did you practice any other sports before? And now?
I started it as many children by swimming lessons and in my pool, by choice of technical director and my coach, agonism was only in Finswimming. In ‘93 I did my first mini-competition so, 16 years later, without infamy and without praise are still a Finswimmer! I’m not a champion but I still like train seriously, consistent with other commitments. And as long as I can I will continue to swim. Other sports just for fun: running, cycling, skiing and triathlon. Next year I would run a marathon and within 5 years an iron man competition. Then I think I could be satisfied!

Tell us if you prefere monofin or bi-fins races and why.
The monofin one is the style that I’ve always preferred and I find most impressive. There is no choice for a middle-distance swimmer, maybe by having the 800 bifins … I think I would swim almost well! But I do not like the attitude of those who consider bifins a “SERIE B” specialty. I think it’s ridiculous to classify styles or sports. Any sport you practice, if done with the utmost commitment is difficult!

This is a bad argument…but I want to ask you anyways…What is the main thing that finswimming needs to get into Olympics? Do you think that they will come soon?
Meanwhile, we must quantify the word “soon”. As we say here in Italy, I would “write a sign” if we can get into the 2020 or 2024 games! But I think that Finswimming should focus on other targets. Also because Finswimming cannot be achieved by steps. I believe that the Finswimming needs basically one thing: visibility. Everybody talks about money, space water … all beautiful and important things but they are nothing than consequence from the visibility to the media. I think there is no doubt that the finswimming is a fascinating sport: even the “beginners” can not deny that it is very spectacular. So you don’t need to invent anything strange, you just bring fins and monofin to the people! Then the public will go to swimming pools to searching Finswimming.

How is seen finswimming in your Country, Italy?
Finswimming in Italy – but it’s a bit everywhere – is NOT seen! The problem is that there isn’t a real project and also the initiatives of individual are often hampered by ridiculous power or envy struggles. Everyone talk, but whe the moment to act, they think only to himswlves. Fortunately recently some people, including, without false modesty, I have decided to care about what people say or think and have begun to work. The “pageviews” in the ApneaMagazine forum and SwimmingSpeedRecord during the streaming at World Championships in St. Petersburg are the first demonstration of the goodness of our work. Yet some still do not understand it! But without a general plan, before on national level and after on international, there’s not hope. I notice some little mentality changes in few domains but not in promotion where there isn’t any program and all in all there is never the wish to make it!

Do you think that bi-fins will help Finswimming to get more popular in the World?
Yes! They are cheap and allow a simple transition between the classical swimming and finswimming. Obviously this is not enough but I am a believer enlargement policy through bifins all around the World. The problem is that introducing bifins at World so it could increases the number of participants is not sufficient. And then CMAS doesn’t manage in the right way the “Omologations” rules. The national federations must work too in their own territories. I would say that in Italy, without Bifins, the competitions would be desert.

Who is you favourite Finswimmer (past or present) and why?
It’s ‘a little’ trivial but I admire very much Stefano Figini, as an athlete and as a person. Apart from the undoubted ability and the prize list that speaks alone, I like the fact that the technique and the psychological component may still have an important place. Staying in Italy I believe that we can not speak about Paolo Vandini. Once I tried to find his international results into the CMAS Web Site. He is in the rankings since 1973! Do I need to say more?

Tell us something you want to say (free topic)
I’d like to invite everyone to get involved with promotion. There are a lot of ways to contribute, don’t wait other people for it, if not this situation never change!
I also want to suggest you to buy the DVD from World Championships in Saint Petersbourg
You should have it, a lot of people worked hard to make this dream come true!!