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Kiwi Smashes World Freediving Record
September 23, 2007
*Kiwi Smashes World
Freediving Record*
After setting a new World Record less than 48 hours ago, today Dave Mullins extended his record distance with an amazing underwater swim of 244 metres.
The distance extended his previous World Record by 16 metres. World Class Judge Grant Graves (USA) commented “this is one of the most significant increases in a World Record that I have witnessed or heard of. It was a very impressive swim.”
Mullins described the swim, which lasted 4:02 minutes, as “tough in the beginning, but it felt better and better as the swim progressed.”
Mullins is due to leave for Egypt in 6 weeks where he will contest the Freediving World Championship for constant weight ocean freediving. “The swim today sets me up nicely for that trip” commented Mullins on his impressive current form.
Earlier this year Mullins set a new national freediving record and became the fifth man ever to reach 100m in a constant weight freedive in the ocean. It took him 3:43 minutes during which Mullins experienced severe nitrogen narcosis, a condition usually reserved for deep scuba divers.
Event organiser Fran Rose said she was “blown away” by Mullins’ records and also by the amount of personal bests by the competitors. “It’s been a dream 7 years in the making to have New Zealand freedivers achieving results at this level.”
This weekend’s event marks the first time New Zealand has hosted a freediving competition with A level (world class) international judges.
Top performers from this event will strengthen their selection chances to compete for New Zealand at the Teams World Championships held next year in Europe.
Although freediving is a young sport here, New Zealand has produced a number of world class freedivers. Last year William Trubridge of Napier became the first New Zealander to hold a world record in freediving when he swam down to 82 meters without the assistance of fins.
Auckland based freedive educational company No Bubbles organised the event.
Ant Williams ant@antwilliams.com
ENDS
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