Three new freediving world records have been set in the past two weeks of 2022. The annual Vertical Blue freediving competition last week at Dean’s Blue Hole in the Bahamas has resulted in two new freediving world records. One record at Vertical Blue was in the Constant Weight with Bifins (CWTB) discipline, the other was set in the Free Immersion discipline (FIM). AIDA’s Depth World Championship currently underway in Roatan Honduras has resulted in a third world record being broken in the span of two weeks. The record broken at the AIDA event was in the Constant Weight with Bifins (CWTB) discipline.
Vertical Blue Freediving Competition
The first new world record was set by 26 year old French freediver Arnaud Jerald. He dove to a depth of 120 meters (393 feet) in a time of 3 minutes 34 seconds in the Constant Weight with BiFins (CWTB) disciple. It was the second time during the competition that Jerald broke the 118-meter record set by Alexey Molchanov. Jerald dove to 119 meters on day four of the competition followed by his 120-meter dive on day seven. The Frenchman, who began freediving in Marseille when he was 7 has set six other world records during his career.
The second world record was set on the final day of Vertical Blue in the free immersion (FIM) disciple. Mateusz Malina of Poland successfully completed a dive to a depth of 127 meters (417 feet). The dive is a 3 meter increase over the previous world record set in 2016.Free immersion has traditionally been dominated by New Zealander William Trubridge, who also runs the Vertical Blue competition each year.
Malina emerged as the overall men’s points winner for the Vertical blue competition for 2022. Hungary’s Fatima Korok was the overall women’s points winner.
AIDA Depth World Championship
Marianna Gillespie of France set a new world record on the first day of competition at AIDA Depth World Championship. Gillespie dove to a depth of 97 meters (318 feet) in the Constant weight with bifins (CWTB) discipline. Several national records were also set by other women during Day one of the competition.
With 5 days remaining, lets see if more freediving world records will fall as the sport of freediving and its athletes progress to deeper and deeper depths. As the competition continues Free Depth will keep you updated on any additional world records that have been broken.
As always, respect the ocean, have fun, and dive safe.