Ukrainian freediver Nataliia Zharkova set a new women’s World Record this week in the Constant Weight with Bi-Fins (CWTB) discipline with a dive to 112m/367ft.
Zharkova set the record in the crystal-clear waters of Sharm El Sheikh, at Only One Apnea Center.
In an Instagram post, Zharkova wrote:
“Last year, I started a little tradition for myself: dedicating my dives to certain events, people, or causes.
“And this first dive of the 2026 competition season, I want to dedicate to @deep_division_ people from our last Dahab camp.
“Because honestly, you guys helped me prepare for this dive more than you probably realize: going up and down with you is a great training! And you are getting deeper and deeper every year.
“So I need to keep up.
“This is one of the most beautiful parts of teaching: growing while teaching others.
“112m CWTB.
“AIDA World Record.
“First competition dive of the season.
“To be continued…”
Last September, Zharkova shared the gold medal with Italy’s Alessia Zecchini in the CWTB discipline at the CMAS Depth World Championships in Greece.
Zharkova and Zecchini each conducted flawless 105m/344ft dives, earning them both white cards and first place.
In an January 2019 interview with DeeperBlue, Zharkova talked about what continued to inspire her freediving:
“Right now it is a realization of how much more freediving can be! I am a very competitive person. So for a long time freediving was for me only the line with the marks. Even though then it was a great trip into self inner-world, the success of its investigation was always measured by the meters or minutes.
“At some point, I’ve realized how little I’ve seen in my life! I am a master of such a great tool as a breath hold and I am so silly not to use it! So the newest wave of my inspiration is about to dive the PLACES, not the meters.
“I’ll be honest though: the core of my personality is still the same… So, of course, a temptation to kick asses at the competition is still there, and I’ll do it. But with a flair for a fun adventure!”
