by Nina Vaclavikova
More than 170 participants, including a record 73 minors, took part in the 18th edition of one of the most eccentric and beloved summer events in the city: the Olimpiade dele Clanfe, a diving competition organized by the Associazione di Promozione Sociale SPIZ.
The event, known for its playful spirit, comedic dive names, and a wide range of participants—this year aged between 3 and 86—has become a staple of Trieste’s summer calendar. Organizers describe it as the “strangest, funniest, and wettest” competition of the season.
“We want to thank all 171 participants who signed up this year,” said organizers in a statement on behalf of SPIZ’s members and volunteers. “A special thanks goes to the 73 underage divers. We’re not sure whether to interpret this as a hopeful sign for the future—or a worrying display of youthful recklessness,” they added, half-jokingly.
Despite the light-hearted tone, the work behind the scenes is anything but casual. The event is entirely volunteer-run, and organizers say the overwhelming participation is a rewarding recognition of the effort required to make the event a success.
Each year, divers—known locally as clanfadori—compete not just on skill, but on creativity, humor, and flair. Participants often enter in themed costumes, and the dives themselves are rated for their originality and degree of difficulty.
