On the fifth day of the 33rd AIDA Deep World Championship, the focus returned to the women’s Free Immersion (FIM) competition. After two days of strong winds and swells, which cooled the waters of the bay, the competitors faced more challenging conditions.

Free Immersion (FIM) is a free diving discipline in which the athlete descends and ascends using a vertical rope without fins, using only his hands to propel himself. This discipline is considered one of the purest forms of freediving, as it requires great upper body strength and efficient use of energy, especially during the ascent. It is often perceived as a meditative exercise because of the slow, controlled movements along the rope, allowing divers to connect more intimately with the water and its natural flow.

A RECORD THAT STILL STANDS

The current female world record holder in Free Immersion is Hungarian athlete Fatima Korok, who reached a depth of 102 meters in 2023. Although her record remained intact, Wednesday’s competition was full of impressive performances.

This fifth day brought together 30 female athletes from 19 countries. Among the participants were experienced competitors, including last year’s champions, as well as promising newcomers from countries where free diving is gaining popularity, such as Cape Verde, Syria and Costa Rica.

RESULTS

• Enchante Gallardo (USA) stood out with an impressive 94-meter dive, setting a new continental record for North America and a national record for the United States. Just two days earlier, Gallardo had also set the continental record in the Constant Weight Bi-Angling discipline, earning her the silver medal.
• Marianna Gillespie (International Individual Athlete) reached a depth of 81 meters. Marianna had already secured a gold medal in Constant Weight Bi-Fins and a bronze medal in the Constant Weight No Fins category on the first day of the competition.
• Şahika Ercümen (Turkey) won the bronze medal with a dive of 77 meters. Ercümen is recognized for her vast experience in free diving and her dedication to the sport.

In addition to the podium medalists, several female competitors set national records at the event:

• Cape Verde – Tatiana Mendes Barbosa – 42m.
• United States – Enchante Gallardo – 94m (National and Continental Record)
• Belgium – Marine Simonis – 73m
• Indonesia – Nikita Fima Atriyu – 65m

This event not only highlighted the sporting excellence of the competitors, but also underscored the global growth of freediving and its ability to inspire new generations of athletes around the world.