Guillaume Nery (FRA) and Natalia Molchanova (RUS) were named the Constant Weight (CWT) champions at the 2011 Aida World Championships on the second competition day, yesterday September 22. It was a day of drama as the conditions were challenging and resulted in a lot of early turns and disqualifications.
Current world record holder Molchanova broke her existing record by a single meter, reaching 101m. In spite of the rough seas and low visibility, Molchanova’s dive was well executed and was quickly verified by an official AIDA Suunto dive computer.
Jarmilla Slovencikova (CZE) came in second place, managing 86m in a nervy dive, and Misuzu Hirai (JPN) came third with 82m. Following her dive, Slovencikova explained her thoughts. “I was very nervous and scared. I was afraid I could not equalize and I would just turn early and get the yellow card. Then after the 20m mark, I told myself; do your job: relax, wait, freefall. Ah, there is the tennis ball on the line and the plate but where is the tag? I found the tag and headed up. I just keep thinking of my fin swimming coach and trying to keep good form.”
Nery’s world championship winning dive of 117m was celebrated by his teammates, who sung and threw the champion ceremoniously back into the water. He only won by a whisker though, with second placed Carlos Coste’s (VEN) dive coming close with 116m. The Venezuelan diver still set a record though.
“I am very happy. This is a personal best for me and a Pan-American record,” Coste said. “The conditions were not good and it was very challenging but I succeeded in spite of the waves. It gives me a lot of confidence for the future.”
Two divers tied for third place, both Christian Maldame (FRA) and Giorgios Panagiotakis (GRC) achieved a depth of 101m. Maldame also spoke of the challenging conditions. It was a good dive but more difficult than training. It was colder but I felt good in preparation. Equalization was difficult and I had trouble with my ears at 95m but I rode the ears until the plate. I felt good on the way and had a strong surface protocol even though the waves and the wind were very trying.”
William Trubridge (NZL) and Alexey Molchanov (RUS) both had their sights set on 118m, but Trubridge turned early at 111m and failed to complete successful surface protocol that resulted in disqualification. Agonisingly, Molchanov dove to 118m but was also penalized for incorrect surface protocol.
Antero Joki (FIN) was thrilled to finally hit the 100m mark and set a new Finnish record, after missing it three times in the previous week. He barely made the surface protocol in time with .04 sec to spare.
September 23 is a training day and September 24 will be the Free Immersion (FIM) and the final day of competition.
Details from Natalia Molchanova’s World Record dive: www.movescount.com/moves/move2887639
Details from Guillaume Nery’s CWT championship winning dive: www.movescount.com/moves/move2887695
Dive overview: www.movescount.com/members/AIDA_WC_2011_CWT
CWT Overall Results MEN
1. NERY Guillaume (FRA) 117m.
2. COSTE Carlos (VEN) 116m.
3. MALDAME Christian (FRA) 101m.
PANAGIOTAKIS Giorgos (GRC)
4. JOKI Antero (FIN) 100m.
5. SHINOMIYA Ryuzo (JPN) 97m.
CWT Overall Results WOMEN
1. MOLCHANOVA Natalia (RUS) 101m
2. SLOVENCIKOVA Jarmila (CZE) 86m
3. HIRAI Misuzu (JPN) 82m
4. VON BOETTICHER Anna (GER) 76m
5. ASSO Aurore (FRA) 75m
Images by Nicholas Kouvaras and Fred Buyle