After two days of delays due to strong winds and rough seas, the organizing team of the 33rd edition of the AIDA World Championship resumed competition on Saturday. On this day, men and women competed together in the Constant Weight (CWT) discipline. Considered a favorite by many divers, CWT requires athletes to descend and ascend using a monofin, relying on their technique, strength and coordination to achieve maximum depth. This discipline makes both physical and mental demands on athletes, pushing them to the limit of their endurance.
A total of 78 participants competed in the event. Conditions were not easy: the surface water temperature dropped to 23°C, with temperatures dropping to 13°C at depths greater than 60 meters, after two days of strong winds. Despite these challenges, the athletes achieved impressive performances, breaking national records and obtaining outstanding results.
CONSTANT WEIGHT WINNERS (CWT)
Marianna Gillespie, who competed as an International Individual Athlete, performed a remarkable 100 meter dive. Marianna had an outstanding performance throughout the championships, previously winning a bronze medal in the No Fins discipline, a gold medal in Free Immersion and a silver medal in Bi-Fins.
Laia Sopeña, an emerging promise in Spanish freediving, impressed with a descent of 98 meters, securing the silver medal and setting a new national record for Spain.
Enchante Gallardo, from Hawaii, USA, reached a depth of 93 meters to take the bronze medal. Enchante had already made headlines at the championships with a 91-meter dive, which earned her a new continental record for North America and a national record for the United States.
National records in the women’s category:
- Spain – Laia Sopeña – 98m.
- Latvia – Yulia Marievich – 80m
- Indonesia – Nikita Fima Atriyu – 72m
- Cape Verde – Tatiana Mendes Barbosa – 47m
- Costa Rica – Estefania Dejuk – 33m
CONSTANT WEIGHT WINNERS (CWT)
- Alexey Molchanov, competing as an International Individual Athlete, defended his World Champion title with an impressive dive of 131m. Alexey, known as one of the most dominant figures in the sport, had already broken his own world record in Constant Weight Bi-Athletics by reaching 125 meters at this same championship.
- Andrey Matveenko, also an International Individual Athlete, secured the silver medal with a descent of 120 meters. Matveenko is recognized as one of the world’s deepest divers and previously won a silver in the Constant Weight Bi-Athlete discipline.
- Eddy Laffin of France took the bronze medal with a solid descent to 108 meters. This is his first medal at this year’s championships, cementing his position as one of France’s top athletes.
In addition, Andres Leon, who was representing Costa Rica in his debut at the AIDA World Championships, set a new national record with a dive to 35 meters.
