Nino Fazio

Nino Fazio, event organizer of solo swims and relay swims across the Strait of Messina in Italy

Strait of Messina or the Stretto di Messina

Nino Fazio is a powerhouse of a motivator and promoter of open water swimming in Sicily, Italy. The 1961-born master swimmer has creatively and beautifully created websites that celebrate open water swimming in Sicily, including Baiadigrotta.it.

He has swum four times from the Aeolian Islands to mainland Sicily: 3 Vulcano - Capo Calavà, 21 km (1987-2005-2006), 1 Vulcano - Milazzo (2011). Nino is one of the promoters of the non-competitive swims across the Strait of Messina alongside pilot Giovanni Arena, and organizes for FIN, Italian Swimming Federation, several FIN-FINA races in his area, including the 10 km Periplo di Capo Milazzo. He is FIN's person-in-charge for open water swimming in Sicily.

He holds records in the Strait of Messina and between the Aeolian Island and Sicily, and provides advice and coaching of individuals interested in challenging the Messina Strait in Sicily. In 2010 he has been nominated by Open Water Source for the World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year Award.

Fazio is from Messina, Italy and has a passion and love for vintage guitars besides his love for open water swimming and maintaining the historical records of the Strait of Messina. He collects acoustic and electric archtop guitars from the 1920s to the 1960s, and his collection has been featured on newspaper and magazines such as La Repubblica.

Record-setting Swims

On July 23rd 2006, Nino sets the new record of the crossing from Vulcano (Aeolian Islands) to Capo Calavà (Sicily), swimming the 21 km course in 5 hours and 35 minutes. On 2 September 2010, Fazio sets a new record of the double-crossing of the Strait of Messina, swimming the 6.7 km course in 1 hour 22 minutes 23 seconds; his escort pilot was Giovanni Arena. His son Andrea Fazio, five years later, broke the record of the single crossing of the Strait (30'06"). Andrea Fazio's crossing was selected as the 2015 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year.

History of the Strait of Messina

Fazio prepared the history of all swims across the Strait of Messina from 1930 to the present day. The information is recorded here at Baia di Grotta.

External links

• Baiadigrotta.it
• Nino Fazio Takes Up Aeolian Islands
• Smiling Before And After Open Water
• Strait of Messina and Aeolian Islands Records
• World Open Water Swimming Association
• Open Water Swimming
• Swimming Against The Tide
• Are Open Water Swimmers Watermen?
• Making Memories In Messina
• Like Father, Like Son In The Strait Of Messina
• Andrea Fazio's Is Selected As World Performance Of The Year
• 30 Years Ago In Sicily
• Striving In The Strait Of Messina
• Nino Fazio Organizing Swims In The Strait of Messina
• Sarah Iannello Sets Strait of Messina Record