8.16 minutes, 221 meters without breathing…: discover the crazy performances achieved in apnea competition in Nîmes

Souriante, Hinatea Penilla a signé un nouveau record de France. Midi Libre – Pierre Meuriot

This Sunday, March 24, the Nemausa swimming pool hosted a freediving competition organized by the Sporting club of free divers. Guaranteed suspense and record at stake…

From the early hours of the morning, on this Sunday, March 24, the various participants gathered in the Nemausa swimming pool, ready to push their limits. If apnea is a practice little known to the general public, "it interests and arouses the curiosity of more and more people", says Philippe Péan, president of the International Association for the Development of Apnea (Aida) on a national scale.

A very supervised discipline where safety comes first. Midi Libre – Mikaël Anisset

A high-level competition

Still considered a niche discipline, the practice of apnea is becoming more and more popular so that at present, around 100 competitions have held every year in France. "It is gradually becoming a professional discipline, continues Philippe. Today, some athletes have a national or even international level."

The day was structured around two distinct tests: static apnea in the morning, where participants had to hold their breath as long as possible, and dynamic apnea in the afternoon, focused on the distance covered. If the ordeal may seem dangerous, Julien Sentilhes is clear: "We focus above all on safety, says the president of the’ nbsp;Free Divers Cup club. None of our volunteers participate in this competition, we are all mobilized to support the participants."

221 meters and a new French record

This morning, during the static apnea test, Romain Jacob was the first to shine. Although he has only been freediving for two years, he won the competition with a time of 8’ 16” the key. "I continue to learn every day, smiles the one who trains in Toulouse. Today, I set a new record even though I still had a little bit under my belt. This is a rather good sign for the future", he concluded with his sights set on the next world championships which will take place in Lithuania at the end of the month of June.

This afternoon, the dynamic apnea test held its share of surprises. Midi Libre – Pierre Meuriot

Inside the Nîmes swimming pool, the tension rose another notch this afternoon with the announcement of a possible record of France during the dynamic test. Among the best in the world in their discipline, Clément Lesaffre (bifins) and Hinatea Penilla y Perella Marere (single fin) held their place with, at the end of the suspense, a new French record gleaned by the woman from Temae, in French Polynesia. "221 meters is good, but I always want to do better !"

Hinatea Penilla: “It lets you breathe a little”

What state of mind are you in after this new French record ?

I am obviously very satisfied even if I came above all to have fun. I have the impression of never being fully satisfied with myself and I am driven by this desire to always do better. This is necessary!

What are the upcoming deadlines?

I have an upcoming competition on April 6 in Nice, with an important French Cup round. I'm going to align myself with three disciplines, which I never usually do. I'm going there with the aim of having fun before participating in the French championships in Brest and then, I hope, in the world championships. This would be the fourth time for me.

Advice for all those who would like to discover this discipline?

First of all, you need to get closer to a club and above all not start alone. We don’t have to compete, it’s above all a pleasure. With the life we ​​lead alongside, it allows us to breathe a little (laughs). Personally, I have always practiced freediving since I was born by the ocean, in Tahiti. But it was really once in Nice that I immersed myself 100% in it. I was dancing and I wanted to try another discipline, closer to nature.

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