The fourth day of the 33rd AIDA World Championship, originally scheduled for September 9, 2024, was rescheduled to September 10 due to adverse weather conditions. The men’s constant weight with bi-fins (CWTB) competition was canceled due to strong winds and swells that cooled the bay’s waters, complicating athletes’ performance. However, today’s events resumed with the world’s top freedivers ready to get back into competition.
The CWTB event is one of the main freediving disciplines, in which athletes descend and ascend using only two fins, without external equipment assistance. Although bi-fins offer greater control, they require more effort than monofins, making technique crucial to minimizing energy expenditure during the dive. In this discipline, athletes must balance strength, technique, and efficient oxygen use.
[Follow SportsIn on Instagram for more stories!]
In today’s competition, Alexey Molchanov, competing as an Independent Neutral Athlete, achieved a 125-meter dive, breaking his own world record and reaffirming his title as world champion. This feat marks his seventh record in the discipline since its introduction in 2019 and the 35th record of his career. In second place, Andrey Matveenko, also competing as an Independent Neutral Athlete, won the silver medal with a 112-meter dive, followed by Croatia’s Petar Klovar, who reached 105 meters to secure the bronze. Klovar had already won gold in the constant weight without fins (CNF) discipline on the championship’s second day.
In addition to the winners’ achievements, several national records were broken today: Jihoon Jang of Korea reached 100 meters, Tommi Pasanen of Finland hit 90 meters, and Gonzalo Cortes Tavara of Peru set a new national record with an 80-meter dive. These results highlight the growing popularity and competitive level of freediving worldwide, with athletes from 23 countries showcasing their skill and dedication in an expanding sport.
Today’s event not only crowned the world’s best freedivers but also showcased the diversity of participants, with experienced competitors and rising talents from countries where freediving is gaining ground on the international sports scene.
