Natalia Molchanova, 53, widely regarded as the greatest free diver in history, was reported missing in the Balearic Sea near Spain after diving with three others there on Sunday, according to her son, Alexey Molchanov, and the global federation for free diving.
Molchanova, a Russian who holds dozens of world records, did not surface after a recreational dive to about 35m without fins off the coast of Formentera, an island near Ibiza. Her record in that discipline, in which divers use the breaststroke to swim as deeply as possible on a single breath, is 71m, set in May in Dahab, Egypt. She set the record along a line used to measure depth and to tether the diver in case of emergency.
On Sunday, she was diving recreationally without such a line 3.2km west of La Savina at Poniente de es Freus, a part of the sea where currents at the surface and at depth can be unpredictable and powerful.
“The world has lost its greatest free diver,” said Will Trubridge, a 15-time world-record holder in the sport. “I don’t think anybody would dispute that.”
When Molchanova failed to surface after her dive on Sunday, her fellow divers conducted a brief search before calling for help via radio. A flotilla of private boats and the local coast guard deployed. Air support was added and the search lasted until dark. It resumed on Monday morning.
Molchanova remained missing on Tuesday, when the search expanded to include the use of underwater robots capable of searching a radius of nearly 805km at depth.
The water temperature in the area was about 26.1oC, although a layer of water known as a thermocline can be up to 10oC cooler about 20m below the surface. Such a variance can shock a diver’s system.
“This is something that nobody in their worst nightmare could ever imagine would happen,” said Kimmo Lahtinen, the president of the global federation for free diving, AIDA International. “She was a free diving superstar and we all thought nothing could harm her. Nothing could happen to her, but, you know, we are playing with the ocean, and when you play with the ocean you know who is the strongest one.”
Molchanova was first a competitive swimmer. After shifting to free diving after she was 40, she went on to set 41 world records and claim 23 world champion titles.
Free diving includes three pool disciplines: static apnea, in which a diver goes facedown in a pool and floats holding their breath as long as possible (Molchanova’s world record is 9 minutes, 2 seconds); dynamic, in which a diver swims as many pool lengths as possible underwater on one breath with a monofin (her record is 237m); and dynamic no fins, in which the diver does the same thing using a breaststroke (her record is 182m).
For Molchanova and Molchanov, who is also a competitive diver, the pool was always a mere training ground. They preferred to go deep.
“Compared to the ocean,” she once said, “the pool is like running on a treadmill versus running in the forest.”
There are three depth disciplines in competitive free diving. In constant weight apnea, a diver swims as deeply as possible on one breath with a monofin. Any weight they choose to wear on the way down, they must carry back to the surface.
Molchanova became the only woman in the sport’s history to break the mythical 100m barrier, at the world championships in Kalamata, Greece, in 2013.
The same year, Molchanov set a men’s record in the same discipline with a dive to 128m.
Molchanova also holds the no-fins record and the record for free immersion, in which a diver pulls along a line to depth and back again to the surface. Her record is 91ms.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and