Freedive World Record event for Wellington

Freediving New Zealand media release

Release date: September 19, 2007

Freedive World Record event for Wellington

This weekend Wellington’s Dave Mullins will attempt to break a freediving world record.

On Friday, September 21, Mullins (26) and other freedivers from around New Zealand will compete in a freediving event at the Naenae Swimming Pool in Hutt Valley.

Earlier this year Mullins unofficially broke the world record for a breathhold swim in a pool by swimming 234 metres while holding his breath. His swim was not recognised as an official world record as no international judges capable of awarding a world record were present. Mullins will attempt to match his record breaking distance in the upcoming event to claim the official world record.

He also set a new national freediving record and became the fifth man ever to reach 100m in a constant weight freedive in the ocean. It took him 3.43 minutes and Mullins experienced severe nitrogen narcosis, a condition usually reserved for deep scuba divers.

This weekend’s event will be the first time New Zealand has hosted a freediving competition with A level international judges. Athletes breaking world records will have their performances officially ratified. Each athlete will be judged on how long they can hold their breath underwater and by how far they can swim on a single breath.

Top performers from this event will strengthen their selection chances to compete for New Zealand at the Teams World Championships held next year in Europe.

Although freediving is a young sport here, New Zealand has produced a number of world class freedivers. Last year William Trubridge became the first New Zealander to hold a world record in freediving when he swam down to 82 meters without the assistance of fins.

Auckland based freedive educational company No Bubbles will be running the event.

Organiser Fran Rose expects that top athletes will hold their breath for more than seven minutes and will swim more than 200 metres on a single breath.

A paramedic from the Oxygen Therapy Clinic in Auckland will be on hand to assist all divers.

Competition starts at 9am each morning with athletes competing in the underwater swimming disciplines. Static (pure) breathhold events will run each afternoon from 1pm.

Media are welcome to attend the event and divers will be available for interviews.

ENDS

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