The successful AIDA 2024 Deep World Championship came to an end this Sunday in Ajaccio, Corsica, with the eagerly awaited men’s Free Immersion (FIM) event, which had been rescheduled due to adverse weather conditions. The Free Immersion, a discipline in which athletes descend and ascend by grabbing a rope without the use of fins, tested the endurance of the competitors due to low water temperatures (about 13°C) after several days of storms and strong winds.

Despite the challenges that the cold waters imposed, the world’s best freedivers delivered outstanding performances, demonstrating the strength and determination of the freediving community.

MEN’S FREEDIVING (FIM) RESULTS

Petar Klovar (Croatia) – 127 meters
Petar Klovar was crowned champion with an impressive 127 meter descent, cementing his reputation as one of the best in the world. His consistency throughout the championship took him to first place.
Abdelatif Alouach (France) – 111 meters
Corsican freediver and co-organizer of the championship, Abdelatif Alouach, took the silver medal with a dive of 111 meters.
Vitomir Maričić (Croatia) – 109 meters.
Vitomir Maričić closed the podium with a bronze thanks to his 109-meter dive, again highlighting his experience and ability to compete in difficult conditions.

NATIONAL RECORDS
Korea – Jihoon Jang: 100 meters (third national record in this event).
Hungary – Marcell Bago: 86 meters.

OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS

The overall title, which recognizes excellence in the four disciplines of freediving (Free Immersion, Constant Weight, Constant Weight Without Fins and Constant Weight with Bi-Fins), rewarded those who demonstrated their versatility and endurance.

Men’s Category:

• • Petar Klovar (Croatia). After winning gold in Free Immersion and bronze in Bi-Fins, Klovar was crowned the absolute men’s champion.
  • Jihoon Jang (Korea). His outstanding participation in all disciplines earned him the silver medal in the overall category.
  • Vitomir Maričić (Croatia). Maričić completed the overall podium, reaffirming his consistency in the championship.

Women’s Category:

• Marianna Gillespie (International Individual Athlete). Gillespie took the women’s senior champion title for the third consecutive time, with an impressive 100-meter dive in the Constant Weight discipline, among other feats.
• Talya Davidoff (South Africa). Highlighted by two continental records for Africa, Davidoff secured second place in the women’s overall.
• Enchante Gallardo (USA). Gallardo, known for her strong performances, rounded out the women’s podium with third place.
  World, continental and national records

The championships saw numerous records broken, including a new world record:

World Record: Alexey Molchanov set a new world record in the discipline of Constant Weight with Bi-Angling (CWTB), reaching 125 meters.
Continental Records:
Enchante Gallardo (USA): 91 meters in CWTB and 94 meters in FIM (Continental Records for North America).
Talya Davidoff (South Africa): 84 meters in CWTB and 60 meters in Constant Weight No Fins (CNF).

In total, 36 new national records were achieved, highlighting the commitment and growth of the sport around the world.

With the closing of the 33rd AIDA World Deep Diving Championship, the freedivers demonstrated their ability to overcome human limits in a competition marked by discipline, mental strength and the spirit of self-improvement.