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Turkish freediver Sahika Ercumen represented Türkiye by breaking her own national record on the final day of the World Freediving Championship, held in Kalamata, Greece.
Competing in the bi-fin category, she completed a dive of 92 meters in 3 minutes and 27 seconds, beating her previous record of 91 meters. The event saw participation from 140 athletes representing 40 countries.
Ercumen broke the world record in the variable weight category without fins by reaching a depth of 106 meters off the coast of Hatay, Türkiye, on October 14, 2023.
She shared her feelings about this achievement, saying, “Breaking this record under these conditions makes me incredibly happy. It was tough to refocus after the dives were canceled because of the weather, but I gave my best for my country despite having no sponsor this year and facing health issues before the competition.”
Besides her record-breaking performance, Ercumen secured a bronze medal in the bi-fin category. Her year had been marked by difficulties, including a lack of sponsorship and personal health problems.
Despite these obstacles, she remained focused on her goals, delivering one of her strongest performances yet. "This year, I wasn’t able to train as much as I wanted, but I’m so proud to have achieved this result. I hope it serves as a gift to Türkiye," she explained.
Just a day before her 92-meter dive, Ercumen also set a new national record in the no-fin assisted rope category by diving 82 meters.
Reflecting on the challenges she overcame, she said: "It was incredibly difficult to get back into the right mindset for the dives, but I knew I had to give everything I had."
The World Freediving Championship, which took place from October 2-12, 2024, concluded with a medal ceremony in Kalamata, Greece.
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