Francismar Siviero is a Brazilian open water swimmera from Grêmio Náutico União who swims and eloquently and comprehensively documents many open water swims around the world in the Portuguese language via his blog NATAÇÃO MASTER. He also created the Swimming Through Postcards project where he describes his global tour to iconic locations and open water swimming events.
The 2025 Swimming Through Postcards project focused on a series of open water challenges throughout Italy and France. Siviero explains, “The initiative goes beyond sports. Through swimming, the projects promotes reflections on sustainability, social inclusion, and healthy living, connecting people with nature and the local culture of the places visited.
In 2025, the project centered on the Italian Open Water Tour in Genoa. We carried the banner of environmental awareness to the crystal-clear waters of Liguria and then onton the Oceanman Italy in Cattolica, solidifying its presence in one of the most respected events on the European circuit.
Another key moment took place in Sestri Levante on the Italian Riviera where the project took part in the 50th-anniversary celebrations of Cavi Sestri Levante, a high-profile 1.5 km and 3 km event.
Concluding the tour, I swam in the iconic Défi de Monte-Cristo in Marseille, in French Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. Inspired by Alexandre Dumas’ novel, the race symbolizes overcoming challenges and the spirit of freedom — values that have been at the heart of the project since its inception.
Each event was carefully chosen to align with the project’s core mission: to swim in places of natural beauty and cultural significance, turning each swim into a platform for visibility of urgent causes such as environmental respect, social inclusion, and collective well-being.
I also champion sustainability by promoting concrete environmental education actions, such as the events #LIMPEOLAGOGUAÍBA, #NADEPORÁRVORES, and #FUGADAILHADOPRESÍDIO which mobilize volunteers, athletes, and communities in clean-up efforts and preservation of natural areas — with special focus on Lake Guaíba, in Porto Alegre.
With an increasingly strong international calendar and growing recognition, I am hopeful that Swimming Through Postcards continues to inspire athletes, communities, and institutions to view aquatic sports as tools for social and environmental transformation.
Photo courtesy of Renato Consilvio.
© 2025 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“
A World Open Water Swimming Federation project.
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