Kiwis Dominate 2009 Freediving World Champs

New Zealand Freedivers have shown the world, that when it comes to going deep, those from down under truely have what it takes.

Over 2 seperate events held in Denmark and The Bahamas, Kiwi Freedivers have won a total of 9 medals, out of a possible 22, hauling the highest Medal Tally of any country, and cementing NZ's place as the leading freedivers in the world.

 

The latest medals, won by Niki Roderick and William Trubridge, were awarded at the closing ceremony of the 2009 Freediving World Championships held in the Bahamas last week. Roderick, formally of Tauraga, won silver for her dive to 55m in the Constant Weight No fins discipline and also secured a new national record, and Trubridge claimed both Silver and Gold, along with 2 new national records and a new World Record.

29 year old Trubridge, Formally of Hawkes bay and now resides in the Bahamas, qualified in first place for the Constant Weight No fins Final, and with former world record holders Herbert Nitche and Guillame Neary hot on his heals, descended to 90m on a single breath of air in 3 mins 40 seconds, to take the Gold Medal and a new World Record title. Trubridge said of his dive "Mentally the dive today was more challenging than previous World Record attempts due to World Championship pressure, unlike Vertical Blue which has multiple days to attempt each dive. It was also 1 shot to gain the world record which added to the pressure" After a day of rest, he then competed in the finals of the Constant Weight discipline, involving the use of a monfin to aid propulsion in the decent and ascent of the dive. Turning at the target depth of 110m, Trubridge made his way to the top, and claimed a new National record and silver medal. "Its an honor to be able to represent New Zealand while being so far away. Special thanks to my wife Brittany an Coach Kerian Hibbs"

Fellow New Zealand Freedivers, Kathryn McPhee, Chris Marshall and Kerian Hibbs also competed at the competition, Hibbs narrowly missing out on a place in the finals, made a dive to -72m, making him the 10th person in world history to dive below 70m in Competition, in the No Fins event.

The Indoor section of the World Champs were held in Aarhus, Denmark in August, which saw medal winning performances by Kathryn McPhee, winning 2 Bronze and 1 Silver, Suzy Osler claiming a new NZ record of 200m in they Dynamic with fin event along with a Silver medal, and Guy Brew, Gold in both Static Apnea and Dynamic with fin.

AIDA New Zealand media co-ordinator, Joy Cottle commented " the training, dedication and stratospheric achievements of our athletes this year has been incredible, and we look forward to seeing alot more from our athletes"

AIDA New Zealand are hosting an international competition in February 2010 at Lake Taupo, and will have World Class competitors from around the globe participating in the event.

Image courtesy of Niki Roderick

Niki Roderick - Standing in front of dive platform at Deans Blue Hole, where the competition was based