Alexey Molchanov has set a new freediving world record after reaching a depth of 137 metres off Limassol, breaking his own previous record during the AIDA 2026 World Depth Championships in Cyprus.
The Russian athlete achieved the feat on Thursday, 8 October, in the Constant Weight (CWT) discipline, in which competitors dive and return to the surface using their own propulsion with fins or a monofin, without pulling on the guide rope.
Molchanov surpassed his previous world record of 136 metres, set in 2023, by one metre.
Gold medal and overall men’s title
The performance earned Molchanov the gold medal in the discipline and the overall men’s title, with a total of 484 points.
Croatian freediver Petar Klovar finished second after reaching 125 metres, setting a new national record. American athlete Brad Stevens took bronze with a dive to 115 metres.
Women’s world record also set
Earlier in the championships, Hungarian freediver Zsófia Törőcsik set a world record in the Free Immersion (FIM) discipline, reaching a depth of 108 metres.
In this category, athletes descend and ascend by pulling themselves along a guide rope with their hands, without using fins.
Törőcsik improved her own previous record by one metre. She had reached 107 metres in August 2026.
Limassol hosts world freediving championships
The AIDA 2026 World Depth Championships are taking place in Cyprus from 27 September to 10 October, with Limassol hosting the event for the fifth time.
The performances remain subject to the required verification procedures, including anti-doping checks, before final ratification by the International Association for the Development of Apnea (AIDA).
Also read: Cyprus TV switches to DVB-T2 on 10 October: What viewers need to know
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