According to Serbian Economist, the World Freediving Championships were held in a pool in Futog, a suburb of Novi Sad. The tournament took place from June 9 to 15 and brought together more than 250 athletes from 34 countries across all continents.
At the championships, athletes competed in several disciplines: who could swim the farthest underwater without fins, with two fins, with a monofin, and who could stay underwater the longest without moving.
One of the championship’s standout performers was Polish athlete Mateusz Malina. He won gold in the no-fins underwater swim with a distance of 244 m and set a new CMAS world record. On the final day, he also won the finned swim, covering 322.5 m.
Among the women, Croatian Mirela Kardašević was one of the standout competitors. She won the two-fins swimming event with a distance of 278.5 m and set a new absolute world record. Kardašević also won gold in the fins swimming event, where she achieved a distance of 288 m.
Polish athlete Julia Kozerska won the women’s no-fins swimming event, covering 211 m. The competition in this event was particularly close: Mirela Kardašević took second place with a result of 210.5 m, and third place went to Magdalena Solich-Talanda of Poland with a result of 210 m.
In the men’s static apnea discipline, Poland’s Damian Watrach won with a time of 9 minutes and 36 seconds.
In the women’s division, Germany’s Heike Schwerdtner won gold, staying underwater for 9 minutes and 39 seconds and setting a new CMAS world record.
Ukraine was also represented at the championship. Among the competitors was one of Ukraine’s strongest freedivers, Kateryna Sadurska. In the Masters category, Sadurska took first place with a result of 181 meters.
The tournament brought together the strongest athletes, set several world and continental records, and provided Serbia with a notable international sporting event.
The competition was organized by CMAS—the World Confederation of Underwater Activities. This is an international federation that unites various types of underwater sports, including freediving.
Freediving is underwater swimming while holding one’s breath without scuba gear.
