The 35th edition of the AIDA Freediving World Championship concluded the men’s competition with the Constant Weight -CWT- discipline, regarded as the most prestigious event in depth freediving. After a weather delay, Limassol Bay once again provided the ideal setting for elite performances, with several dives beyond the 100-meter mark and a maximum of 130 meters.

World Champion Alexey Molchanov (AIN), the current world record holder at 136 meters in CWT, completed a 130-meter dive to claim the title with confidence. According to the organizers, it was a conservative approach designed to secure gold.

The silver medal went to Alexander Vinogradov (AIN), who reached 117 meters in the best performance of his career. The bronze was shared by Abdelatif Alouach (France) and Omar Al Ghailani (Oman), both with 109 meters, praised for their clean execution and strong surface protocols.

The CWT discipline requires athletes to descend and ascend solely by their own power, using fins or a monofin. The rules prohibit pulling on the guide rope or dropping weights during the dive. This framework makes CWT the most recognized and widely practiced depth discipline in freediving worldwide.

National records set on the final day

The closing session also reflected the global expansion of freediving, with several national records officially recognized:

• Oman – Omar Al Ghailani: 109m

• Korea – Jihoon Jang: 107m

• Finland – Tommi Pasanen: 101m

• Peru – Gonzalo Cortes Tavara: 93m

• Qatar – Mohammed Abdulla: 91m

• Cyprus – Loizos Pafitis: 74m

• Costa Rica – Hans Hernández M: 65m

Overall men’s ranking at the AIDA World Championship

For the first time, the overall standings — determined by cumulative results across all disciplines — awarded official podium positions to the top three athletes:

1. Petar Klovar (Croatia)

   • CNF World Champion

   • FIM silver medalist

   • CWTB bronze medalist

   • Secured his second consecutive overall title and received the Natalia Molchanova Award

2. Omar Al Ghailani (Oman)

   • Set national records in every discipline

   • Recognized for his consistency and competitive balance

3. Alexey Molchanov (AIN)

   • Gold medalist in CWT and FIM

   • Set a world record in CWTB during the championship

   • Finished third overall despite a blackout incident in CNF

The Natalia Molchanova Award

The Natalia Molchanova Award, established by the International Association for the Development of Apnea -AIDA-, honors the memory of the athlete regarded as the greatest freediver of all time. Molchanova, a multiple World Champion and holder of more than 40 records, played a key role in the professionalization and teaching of freediving until her passing in 2015.

This distinction is awarded to the overall winner of the championship, based on cumulative results across all disciplines. It represents the highest recognition of the event, celebrating the most complete, consistent, and safe athlete of the competition.