NZ Freediver Sets 2nd World Record In One Month

Click to enlarge
Dave Mullins 248 DYN Egypt
NZ Team - L-R Ant Williams, William Trubridge, Dave Mullins.

New Zealand Freediver Dave Mullins has set his 2nd world record in one month.

19 September 2008
for immediate release

Wellington Freediver Dave Mullins has swum a total of 248m underwater on a single breath of air using a monofin for propulsion in the discipline known as Dynamic Apnea securing another world record.

The swim took place during the World Teams Freediving Championship held in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt on the 10th September 2008. The dive was subject to some controversy that later was dismissed by the governing body, which has confirmed the new record. The previous world record stood at 244m, set by Mullins last September in Wellington. Mullins, who swam 10 lengths of the 25m pool, was a member of the three-man freediving team representing New Zealand. The team, sponsored by ORCA were picked by many as favorites to win the event. However they faced various problems including extreme heat, resulting in penalties and incomplete dives that put them out of medal contention. Mullins just a few days prior to his world record dive however claimed a new National Record in the Static Apnea discipline, with a breath hold of 8:11sec's

A protest was lodged against the new World Record by another team, on the grounds that the pool was measured to be 18cm shorter than the 25m standard that AIDA International rules require for any ratified world record. Consideration was given to the circumstances around the performance (all teams competed in the same pool) and it was decided that the record would stand at a distance of 248m, rather than the assumed 250m.

Mullins announced a distance of 1m for his dive, ensuring that he would be seeded early in the day to take advantage of the cooler temperatures in the outdoor pool. "The warm water was still making it difficult to judge my progress, everything felt easy and there were none of the usual signs of the dive reflex or Hypoxia during the dive. This was a bit disconcerting and I came up after 10 lengths while I was still feeling fresh" said Mullins after his dive. Just last month Mullins secured a world record of 213m in the Dynamic Without Fins discipline at Porirua's Aquatic Centre.

Freediving, or breath-hold diving as a sport, involves athletes competing in various disciplines measuring time, depth and distance underwater. Team competitions require divers to compete in three disciplines, accruing points for each. While competitive freediving is an increasingly popular sport in Europe, New Zealand is emerging as a major power within the sport and Kiwis currently hold 4 out of the 8 men's world records and 1 women's record. Following the results of the team World Championships Kiwi males also occupy the top spot on the AIDA world rankings for every competition discipline

ENDS

© Scoop Media