The Best Freedivers In The World

The Best Freedivers In The World

Wellington freedivers Kathryn McPhee and David Mullins have been voted the best freedivers in the world, each being awarded an ICARE trophy in this years ICARE awards.

McPhee, who received the award for "Best female freediver" has had an extremely successful year, setting 13 National Records over 6 competition events including her first world record, set in August in the Dynamic No Fins discipline, swimming 151m underwater on a single breath of air. Kathryn features in the top 2 female freedivers in the 2008 World rankings over all three pool disciplines.

Mullins, voted as the "Best male freediver for 2008" features in the top 2 male divers for the 2008 World rankings in four disciplines, and has taken out the number 1 spot for the depth discipline of constant weight. Mullins set a new world record in the pool event of Dynamic apnea during the World Champs in Egypt, of 248m, and, in August equalled the Dynamic no fins world record with a swim of 213m on a single breath of air.

Each year ICARE, the International Center for Apnea Recognition and Education calls for nominations from the worldwide freediving community for the trophies, those nominations are then put to the vote by the wider freediving community and a panel of judges to recognise achievement and contribution to the sport of Freediving.

The governing body for Freediving in New Zealand, AIDA NZ was ranked third in the awards for the "Best national institution" category, as did NZ team coach John Wright (Auckland) for "Best team coach", William Trubridge (Hawkes Bay) for "Best male freediver", and Niki Roderick (Tauranga) for "Best emerging female freediver".

New Zealand freedivers have made a huge impression on the world of freediving in 2008, setting a total of 7 world records over the 6 competition disciplines with 8 Kiwi freedivers featuring in the top 20 of the 2008 World rankings, all of whom will be vying for spots in the 2009 World Champs being held in Denmark and The Bahamas.

ENDS

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