Holder of four world apnea records (the last at 117 m in July 2021) by sinking into the abyssal depths of the oceans and in a sea that seems motionless, Arnaud Jerald decided, this time, to rub shoulders with the water as it rages along the coast.
Not just anywhere, in Teahupoo, one of the most famous spots on the planet.
Off Tahiti where the surfing events of the 2024 Paris Olympics will take place, the Frenchman remained immersed, offering himself a dance underwater with the mythical wave, to the incessant rhythm of ebb and flow.
A harmonious ballet where the freediver, also flirting with the reef, lets himself be guided by the elements to become totally one with the movement of the ocean which is unleashed a few centimeters above him.
Arnaud Jerald underwater as the elements rage above him.
Tim McKenna
Teahupoo, coveted site but also feared by surfers
Arnaud Jerald had surrounded himself with a team to manage the risk of being swept away by the current and thrown onto the reefs.
A lifeguard accompanied him on a jet ski and two divers ensured safety at sea.
These sublime images in this iconic place in the world of surfing were captured by the famous surf photographer Tim McKenna, who made a clip of hypnotic beauty.
“
This video is a nod to my childhood, I loved playing in the waves.
My dream was to do it one day in Teahupoo
, ”says the athlete, author of an exceptional 2021 season, with two world records and a world champion title.