Fifty-seven-year-old William Winram recently set a pair of CMAS variable-weight freediving records off the Sinai Peninsula in the Red Sea.
Using a weighted sled, Winram dove to 120m (393ft)Â on October 21 and three days later to 130m (426ft), and returned to the surface both times under his own power with bifins, without touching the guide rope on the way up.
Pim Vermeulen and Tolis Bellos were the appointed CMAS commissioners present to ratify the records. Â Andrea Zuccari of Freediving World organized the event in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Winram breaking world records in his late 50s in such a demanding discipline isn’t such a big deal for him:
“I’m not the oldest to break world records… Rodolfo Robatti who attempted records during the same event this past month broke two himself. He’s been training with me for the past 9 years. When he first came to me to get coaching advice, I turned him down. I generally do that. People have to be really motivated to fullfill the goals they say they have. He persisted, so I put him through a thorough analysis of his physiology, his fitness levels, his posture, you name it. Then I designed a training plan for him, which I adjusted regularly based on his improvements and points of weakness. Additionally, he worked on his equalization skills with Italian freediving champion Andrea Zuccari, whom I also learned a great deal from and who is the worlds foremost authority on equalization. Rodolfo committed to himself and the training program. He had bumps on the road, like every athlete does, but in the long run, he’s ending this year’s diving season with his first two world records under his diving belt, Variable Weight Free Immersion, at 105m and 110m, riding a sled down and pulling up on the rope on the ascent. Oh, yes, I meant to say he’s 59. . . .
“One’s 50s hardly qualify as ‘late in life.’ Human limits are under constant redefinition. All the skills I have learned across a convergence of fields across my multiple professional careers have me convinced that we’re no where near our limit. I prefer to speak of human potential.”
Specifically, Winram said:
“I have discovered so much about my own health and how to properly recover from exertion. It’s fascinating because my findings aren’t just applicable to athletes, they’re applicable to everyone, regardless of their age or health status. Imagine if I could accelerate your recovery, how would that change your game as a high-level athlete or as a weekend warrior or someone with a high stress life? Anyone can benefit from these simple exercises which can improve quality of life and impact our longevity. What if I could help you increase your lung capacity by several litres or reduce your respiration rate naturally and improve your mental focus with simple accessible exercises – how would that or could that change your life?”
For more info, check out his website at williamwinram.com.
