蹼泳是游泳者藉由單片腳蹼(monofin)或一般的腳蹼在水面或水底前進的運動。選手只能運用肌肉的力量前進。競賽距離與一般游泳相同(分別是50米、100米、200米、400米、800米、1500米、4x100米接力賽以及4x200米接力賽)。歐州大陸和世界錦標賽是由CMAS所舉辦。蹼泳最主要的魅力是選手所可以達到的速度。目前世界錦標賽中50米自由式的世界紀錄,是由澳洲選手Eamon Sullivan所刷新的21.28秒。(詳情請見世界游泳紀錄)。蹼泳的最快速度則是由俄羅斯選手Euvjeny Skorjenko在50米屏氣潛泳(50m Apnea),所創下的14.19秒。這比一般游泳快了許多。 Fin swimming is the progression of a swimmer using monofins or normal swimfins either on the water surface or underwater, using only muscle strength. The competition distances are same as for swimming (50 m, 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m, 1500 m, 4x100 m and 4x200 m relays). Continental and World Championships are organized by CMAS. The main appeal of fin swimming is the speed that a competitor can reach. The World record for the 50 m freestyle, Long Course (see World records in swimming), is 21.28 seconds (by Eamon Sullivan of Australia). In fin swimming it is 14.19 seconds (for 50 m Apnea by Euvjeny Skorjenko of Russia.) This is a 66 % increase in speed over conventional swimming.
蹼泳競賽是在1920年代從法國開始、1930年代在義大利、1940和1950年代在英國。歐州大陸和世界錦標賽遵循CMAS的規定。歐洲冠軍賽從1967年開始,世界錦標賽則是從1976年開始。亞洲蹼泳錦標賽從1989年開始已舉辦十次,最近的一次是在2007年,在香港所舉辦的冠軍賽。 There were competitions held in France in the early 1920s, Italy in the 1930s and 1940s and in the United Kingdom in the 1950s. World and Continental Championships are organized under CMAS rules and regulations. The European Championships have run since 1967. World Championships have been held since 1976. There have been twenty one European Championships. The Asian Fin swimming Championships have been held 10 times, having started in 1989, the last being held in 2007 (in Hong Kong).
世運、東南亞運動比賽以及數個多元(multi-sport)和軍訓競賽中都包含蹼泳這個運動項目。從1988年開始,蹼泳正式成為世運的一個項目。英國有大約七個蹼泳俱樂部(大部分在Kent)。在美國,蹼泳則是風行於德州、加州、羅德島州、佛羅里達。隨著更多人參與此項運動,蹼泳將變得更加普及。 The sport is also one of those included in the World Games, South East Asia Games and in several multi-sport and military international events. Since 1988 (San Francisco, California, USA), the sport had been included in the World Corporate Games. In the United Kingdom there are around seven fin swimming clubs, mostly in Kent. In the United States it is very small but gaining competitors. The major areas of fin swimming in the United States include Texas, California, Rhode Island, and scattered individuals in Florida. For sure,the sport will continue to develop and move forward as more swimmers become involved and knowledgeable about the benefits of training with monofins.