Now and again in life it be crucial to ‘behold it’ to ‘divulge it’; Vertical Blue 2021 became as soon as certainly a form of magical times, but even having witnessed all of it many of us soundless can’t divulge the sheer quantity of unbelievable issues that took region. For starters there had been extra world files (WRs) realized in a single occasion than ever earlier than — an astonishing 12 world files and what’s a lot extra spectacular is that three folk had the fortitude and the flexibility to individually space three WRs every themselves.
The aforementioned champions integrated Alenka Artnik, Alexey Molchanov and Alessia Zecchini who collectively dominated the rivals and illustrated what sheer energy, energy and resolution peek love.
Alenka had a notion and she completed it perfectly — electing to utilize handiest three dives out of the on hand six the Slovenian athlete taking into consideration about a single discipline: fixed weight with a mono-fin where she claimed three modern WRs at 118m, 120m and an astonishing 122m. Diving below 120 meters, an unheard of fulfillment by a girl, Alenka inspired fellow competitor and world-record holder himself Alexey Molchanov to right away contact the likes of Guillaume Nery and David Mullins to warn them that Artnik became as soon as not handiest metaphorically nipping at their heels but most likely to surpass them.
Alexey Molchanov also had his enjoy plans in tips coming into the rivals. Flexing his skill, Alexey too space three world files but the canvas for the Russian integrated a free immersion dive to 126m, a fixed weight dive to 131m and a bi-fins dive to 118m.
Nonetheless the final flex came from the waggish (albeit honest correct) Molchanov when on the final day of the comp he announced another WR strive in bi-fins lustrous full smartly he became as soon as going to showcase his most up-to-date product available on the market: some short, white coaching fins that he muscled down to 102m and again with the flash of his smile and a lustrous gleam in his sight, the Russian didn’t tips a yellow card for his genius advertising ploy.
After I spoke to Alexey on the awards ceremony he gleefully printed that his blueprint going into the leisure day lined him if Arnaud Jerald of France announced an strive at 119m – Molchanov would simply attain the 120m. Nonetheless, Alexey’s genius contingency notion allowed him to enjoy a little bit of fun (since in-fact Jerald did not relate another WR strive) and to lightheartedly soundless space up an astonishing dive and derive a 2nd as the young folk teach.
The third participant on this planet record hat-trick became as soon as the girl who took dwelling the total gold for #VB2021, Alessia Zecchini of Italy. Admire Molchanov, Alessia unfold her stellar WR performances right through three disciplines.
On the first day of the comp Alessia space her first WR of the international occasion in the discipline of fixed weight with a smooth dive to 115m, (which became as soon as then eclipsed by the subsequent strive produced by Artnik on the actual same day). On day three of #VB2021 Zecchini’s announcement of a WR strive to 74m in fixed no-fins (CNF) took many spectators without warning — why would Alessia push in the toughest discipline, as her 2nd performance and handiest at some point soon after a gigantic dive to 115m CWT? And another WR moreover?
The reason became as soon as straightforward, Alessia’s motivation became as soon as in step with her wish to give a heartfelt tribute for Sayuri Kinoshita. Alessia’s dive became as soon as each inspired & touching, on condition that she made it on the very day the freediving neighborhood sadly lost it’s favourite cheerleader again in 2019 (in an heart-broken, non-diving connected accident). Alessia’s staunch gesture resonated right during the arena and manifested the friendship & admire she held for Sayuri.
“I truly don’t ticket why Sayuri loved this discipline loads, since it’s so laborious! However truly she helped me loads this day, on the ascent and this record is for her,” shared an emotional Zecchini.
The lithe physique of the Italian sensation belies her gigantic-human energy, and the kisses she blew to photographer Daan Verhoeven on her formula up showcased her wide coronary heart and spirit — a waggish spirit that Sayuri would enjoy loved.
After surroundings two world files in a row, that it’s most likely you’ll ask of an athlete to place it to use easy but not the dauntless Zecchini. On day four of the rivals Alessia became as soon as handsome again in the sphere winding up a free immersion dive to 101m — which she commented felt gigantic good and plod, easy.
It’s laborious to fathom that in years past you also can enjoy one and even two world files space at a time, but to ride world performance after world record performance in mere minutes, and to enjoy had a total of 14 WR makes an attempt announced is moral staggering.
What’s also very alluring & alliterative about all of those world files is that all individuals who space a brand modern World File, (and in most circumstances a non-public finest as smartly,) at #VB2021 had a title that started with the letter “A”! So to boot to Alenka, Alexey and Alessia we witnessed two divers from France make WRs in the discipline of bi-fins, aptly named with ‘As’, Arnaud Jerald and Alice Modolo.
Coming into Vertical Blue 2021 folk anticipated the 25 twelve months-outmoded Arnaud to compete on the most effective level, and to strive his hand at furthering the bi-fins world record space by another Frenchman, Abdelatif Alouach, who handiest moral space his record in June on the French nationals in Villefranche-Sur-Mer (pssst did you ticket that Abdel’s title also starts with A?!)
On day one Arnaud realized his purpose. The right sleeper on this A-record of athletes grew to change into out to be Alice Modolo. Modolo, a extinct dentist, became as soon as making her 2nd appearance at Deans Blue Gap and Vertical Blue. The skilled freediver became as soon as not intending on breaking any world files, but as fate would enjoy it not handiest became as soon as Alice doing thoroughly in the bi-fins class, her methodology became as soon as flawless. With qualified poise and style Alice propelled herself to the very first world record for a French lady with a CWTBF dive to 95m.
You have to perhaps perhaps well most certainly divulge that nothing would high an international record, handsome? Neatly at Vertical Blue 2021 it’s most likely you’ll perhaps perhaps be contaminated. Once the delighted Modolo completed her world record in bi-fins, she then realized moral how shut she indubitably became as soon as to the extremely-sought-after 100m put. Utilizing a huge wave of self perception & momentum, on the final day of the occasion, Alice would look to change into one in every of handiest about a dozen ladies on this planet who enjoy ever dove to 100m in a contest. And prevail she did.
The distinctive & elusive membership of folk who enjoy completed 100m also now entails Misuzu Okamoto of Japan, who kicked off the leisure day of #VB2021 with a spectacular white card dive. The dizzying depth fulfillment is a testament to Misuzu’s coaching, sure outlook, and psychological focal point.
Mimi’s gorgeous dive took three minutes and :seconds – and the enjoyment she expressed on the rupture of her performance made all individuals teary-eyed. So many emotions, poured out of the shrimp and on the total stoic powerhouse — an indelible 2nd forged out of hopes, perseverance and gratitude.
“I felt Sayuri with me on the dive. I felt so solid!” exclaimed an exuberant Okamoto. Celebrating her accomplishment with her pricey buddy and teammate, Hanako Hirose, made the 2nd a lot extra particular for Misuzu as Hanako became as soon as the 2nd lady ever to reach 100m, after the arena infamous Natalia Molchanova.
Moreover to the chief-board and WRs there had been many, many national files and particular particular person achievements to enjoy an even time collectively with another Chilean title for Simon Bennett, a lengthy-time outdated skool of Vertical Blue.
Heaps of well-known victories integrated the winning streaks of Jung A Kim of Korea and Talya Davidoff (Semrad) of South Africa who each garnered handiest white playing cards for the total rivals — a total of six white playing cards every.
Including to Peru’s national record tally with verve became as soon as neuro-surgeon Juani Valdivia. (How this busy scientific professional finds the time to practice is beyond our comprehension!)
In recognition of what makes Vertical Blue in Deans Blue gap the actual region on earth to push the human limits of physiology and freediving, we are able to not neglect to applaud and thank the invaluable safeties and the mettlesome scientific group.
No longer handiest attain the protection divers escort the athletes on their depth-defying performances but to boot they space-up the technical operations, bustle the platform, space up coaching sessions, drill emergency scenarios, derive beginning lists and extra. In 2021 Vertical Blue became as soon as lucky to also enjoy four medics on workers collectively with two pulmonary experts — who straggle above and beyond to cherish the total contributors and crew.
The scientific workers, safety group and occasion crew are the glue that construct Vertical Blue doable. By the numbers, right here’s what became as soon as collectively supported by these hardworking souls:
- 42 Athletes from 21 countries
- 12 winning World Data out of 14 makes an attempt
- 52 winning Nationwide Data out of 79 makes an attempt
- An average announced depth of 83.82m over the 9 rivals days
- An average realized depth of 79.60m – the deepest rivals occasion in the history of the sport.
- Day 7 of #VB2021 seen a suggest announced depth of 92m – the deepest day in the history of the sport.
- An aggregated 18,225m of depth – double the height of Mount Everest!
While you passed over any of the reside circulate, that it’s most likely you’ll straggle to VB Freediving on YouTube and sight the total history-making performances. And prevent tuned for Vertical blue 2022 as we divulge that William Trubridge also can most certainly be making his enjoy plans.
