Russian freediver Alexey Molchanov has solidified his reputation as the world’s most dominant depth athlete, setting a new world record at the AIDA Freediving World Championships in Limassol, Cyprus.
Molchanov plunged 126 metres (413 feet) into the depths of the Mediterranean Sea on a single breath, breaking his own previous world record in the Constant Weight with Bifins (CWTB) category.
Descending with nothing but a headlight, a guide rope, and two separate fins (bifins) on his feet—the discipline considered one of the sport’s most technically challenging—the dive took Molchanov an astonishing four minutes and 32 seconds from start to finish.
The 126m mark surpasses the 125m record he set in 2024. As he successfully resurfaced and gave the “OK” hand signal to the safety crew, the crowd erupted in celebration of yet another milestone in the career of the 38-year-old champion.
Molchanov, who holds multiple world records across various freediving disciplines, continues to push the limits of human physiology and endurance in the extreme sport.
