The 2019 Freediving World Championships are taking place this year in the harbor of Villefranche-sur-Mer, from September 2 to 15. This evening, the official presentation of these world championships was held, making Villefranche-sur-Mer: the The Place To Be for Freediving.
When someone mentions freediving, of course you think of “The Big Blue,” Luc Besson’s iconic film! A movie that introduced a wide audience to an impressive discipline where the key word is concentration. We won’t say more, as the 2019 Modern Freediving World Championships will be in Villefranche-sur-Mer for the fifth time to immerse you in a unique world, and perhaps even into the water?
“The good news is that today we have 48 countries registered. This is a world first since the 1996 championships,” said Joseph Strazzanti, manager of sailing plans and maritime arrangements at the Alpes-Maritimes General Council, who was keen to thank the event’s partners “without whom the championship could not take place.” This year, visitors will be able to get introduced to freediving through various activities organized in partnership with the University Côte d’Azur. “We’ve really pulled out all the stops for the public this year!,” Joseph Strazzanti enthused to conclude his remarks.
In total, about 140 athletes, both men and women, will be present to compete in the harbor of Villefranche-sur-Mer, including 19 French participants. The Villefranche basin is known for its exceptional depth of 160 meters. This is a globally envied harbor where, according to Claude Chapuis, a freediving instructor at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, “modern competitive freediving was born” and “freedivers from all over the world dream of diving there someday.” The 2019 championship welcomes two generations of high-level athletes this year, promising a unique level of sharing and competition.
The competition will take place solely at sea for three events: constant weight without fins (breaststroke descent), constant weight with fins, and free immersion (descent using a rope).
The return of Guillaume Nery to competition should be noted. After years of absence following an accident, the double world champion is returning to competition at the 2019 world championship in Villefranche-sur-Mer. He accidentally made the deepest dive in history at -139 meters. He is, therefore, the competitor to beat. His rivals have been warned…
