Daredevil divers to plunge into Rome’s river Tiber on 1 January 2026.
For the past 80 years, daredevil divers have thrilled crowds in Rome with a peculiar New Year’s Day tradition known as the Tuffo nel Tevere.Each year at midday on 1 January a handful of hardy swimmers take the 18-metre plunge off Ponte Cavour, diving into the icy waters of the river Tiber below.
The tradition was begun by Italian-Belgian Rick De Sonay, known as Mister OK, in 1945.
Rick De Sonay, the original Mister OK. Photo Fanpage.
Each year, to mark his birthday on 1 January, De Sonay would plunge into the Tiber in his bathing suit and a top hat.
Once he emerged from the water, he would reassure the cheering crowds with the “OK” hand gesture, leading to the nickname.
De Sonay took his last dive in the 1980s but the tradition was continued by his faithful disciples, notably Roman lifeguard Maurizio Palmulli, who “inherited” the Mister OK nickname and notched up 34 New Year’s Day plunges before retiring in 2024.
Stressing the importance of perserving traditions, Palmulli passed the baton to Marco Fois, the new Mister OK, who is set to lead the divers taking the plunge on 1 January 2026.
Photo credit: r.nagy / Shutterstock.com.
