The main event has not yet started but the freediving performances coming out of Greece are nothing short of astounding. On Day 2 of the mini comp (running before the championships) 7 new National Records (NR) were set including:
Ilka Michailis of Germany CNF 42m
Lisa Yakubuk of Israel 44m CWT
Karin Gebauer of Austria 51m FIM
Eran Gilead of Israel 63m CNF
Morgan Bourc’his of France 89m CNF
Giorgos Panagiotakis of Greece 102m CWT
Guillaume Néry of France 125m CWT
Not to mention a new world record of 90m FIM for Jeanine Grasmeijer of Holland. And Day 3 was equally as spectacular with another 7 new National Records including an amazing depth performance from Kiwi pool master Dave Mullins.
David Mullins of New Zealand 125m CWT
Giorgos Panagiotakis of Greece 92m FIM
Eran Gilead of Israel 81m CWT
Anna Von Boetticher of Germany 76m FIM
Kate Middleton of NewZealand 60m FIM
Karin Gebauer of Austria 55m CWT
Liza Yakubuk of Israel 46m CWT
The video below captures some of the excitement. With Mullins and Néry edging ever closer to Alexey Molchanov’s WR of 126m CWT. The Russian freediver was planning a WR attempt of 128m on the last day of the mini comp but but Alexey was (perhaps) foiled by “Friday the 13th” bad luck as timing delays interrupted his OT when currents tangled the dive lines.
Stay tuned for up to the minute results of the World Championships next week on twitter.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWh0Ew-Zk6E]
photo © Daan Verhoeven
