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Freediving: Frenchman Arnaud Jérald breaks a world record at 112 meters deep

2020-09-15T21:58:50.356Z


In the waters of Kalamata, Greece, the 24-year-old diver ended up breaking the world record in twin fins after several infrared attempts


The sixth descent was a good one for Arnaud Jérald.

New star of French freediving, the 24-year-old diver signed a new world record on Tuesday by propelling himself in twin fins to 112 meters deep.

An inversion in the protocol, a member of the team who commits a disqualifying gesture, a concern for logistics, a Russian champion who kills him 24 hours before: Arnaud Jérald lived a long adventure before a "happy end" in the blue waters of Kalamata (Greece).

“It changed a lot of things, I passed a milestone, this one goes beyond sport, it teaches me to know who I am, in anger, sadness, joy.

There were a lot of twists and turns, I went to 111 m five times and descending to these depths is very committed, ”he underlines.

VIDEO.

Arnaud Jérald's record images

“Arnaud has really gained experience this past year,” said French freediving star Guillaume Néry to France 3 PACA.

He took a lot of confidence in his protocol and much more ease in accumulating the dives.

Today he is in full control and it is rare at his age ... "

Zero media, zero sponsors

The 24-year-old diver, who in 2019 had signed his first world record in two-fin (108 m), beaten the same year by Russian star Alexey Molchanov (110 m), first sought to achieve the feat at the legendary club of Villefranche-sur-Mer (Alpes-Maritimes).

At the beginning of June, he embarked on the project: retaking the record in constant weight bi-fins, his flagship discipline which consists of diving and ascending by beating alternately with two feet and ballasted by the same number of weights along a rope. without touching it.

“He chose zero media, zero sponsors so as not to put additional pressure on himself, he wanted the most minimalist thing possible,” explains his partner and manager Charlotte Benoît.

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The AIDA International Federation is notified and sends two judges for homologation, housed and fed on the Côte d'Azur at Jerald's expense from August 7 to 17.

The young man, who suffered from dyslexia before being transformed by apnea discovered at 16, trains three times a week.

He has twice completed dives to 111 m during training.

Jerald forgets to take off his nose clip

Monday August 10.

In the bay of Villefranche, the Marseillais dives in the early morning and manages without worry to reach 111 meters.

He quickly resurfaces - his great strength which he owes to thighs shaped by years of mountain biking - and embarks on the protocol which consists, in order, of removing the nose clip, making the "ok" sign with hand and say "I'm ok".

But it doesn't start with removing the nose clip.

The record is invalidated.

Friday August 14.

The 2018 bi-palm vice-world champion returns there and succeeds in his abyssal descent.

With his head above water, he applies the rules of protocol when a member of the team approaches him and touches him.

This is disqualification.

He is considering a third and last attempt in the Alpes-Maritimes, Monday, August 17, but must give up for lack of an available doctor.

This quest for the record will have cost Arnaud Jérald around 15,000 euros, which is “what his main sponsor gives him” according to Charlotte Benoît.

Jérald then echoed a small competition in Kalamata, the European Cup.

An opportunity not to be missed, there will be judges to validate his record.

He nearly missed the plane.

A dive of 3 minutes and 24 seconds

Monday September 14.

Serene, he is preparing to announce to the organization his attempt for Tuesday after having succeeded in the warm Greek waters in training, his fifth time at 111 m.

But Molchanov has just caught on: Monday in Krk (Croatia), he takes the world record of 111 meters during a dive of 4 minutes 10 seconds.

Arnaud Jérald no longer has a choice: he must descend to 112 m.

What he has never done in bi-fins, a discipline more physically harsh than the single-fin where you wave for more efficiency and speed (the world record is at 130 m).

In single-fin, Jérald reached 118 m.

Tuesday September 15th.

At 9:30 am French time, he fell into the depths and came out after 3 min 24 sec to become the new world record holder.

Jérald can breathe ...

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2020-09-15

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