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Natalia Molchanova: Freediving champion feared dead Natalia Molchanova: Freediving champion feared dead
(35 minutes later)
Natalia Molchanova, the 53-year-old Russian champion freediver, is feared dead after going missing on Sunday.Natalia Molchanova, the 53-year-old Russian champion freediver, is feared dead after going missing on Sunday.
Ms Molchanova, who holds 41 world records, was diving for fun off Formentera, a Spanish island near Ibiza, when she failed to surface.Ms Molchanova, who holds 41 world records, was diving for fun off Formentera, a Spanish island near Ibiza, when she failed to surface.
Search efforts have been continuing but it is feared she may have been caught up in strong underwater currents.Search efforts have been continuing but it is feared she may have been caught up in strong underwater currents.
Her passion for freediving "burned so deep inside of her that she dedicated her life to it", her family said.Her passion for freediving "burned so deep inside of her that she dedicated her life to it", her family said.
She was a competitive swimmer as a young woman but left the sport to have a family, going on to take up freediving - underwater diving while holding one's breath - some 20 years later.She was a competitive swimmer as a young woman but left the sport to have a family, going on to take up freediving - underwater diving while holding one's breath - some 20 years later.
She became "the most decorated competitive freediver in the world", with 41 world records, becoming a 23-time world champion in freediving, said her family and the global freediving federation AIDA in a joint statement.She became "the most decorated competitive freediver in the world", with 41 world records, becoming a 23-time world champion in freediving, said her family and the global freediving federation AIDA in a joint statement.
"Natalia trained hard for her sport, she had a nine-minute breath hold, could dive to a depth of 101m [331ft] using a fin and swim a distance of 234m with a fin.""Natalia trained hard for her sport, she had a nine-minute breath hold, could dive to a depth of 101m [331ft] using a fin and swim a distance of 234m with a fin."
She was also the creator and current president of the Freediving Federation of Russia and "has created one of the most vibrant recreational freediving communities in the world".She was also the creator and current president of the Freediving Federation of Russia and "has created one of the most vibrant recreational freediving communities in the world".
"The world has lost its greatest freediver," Will Trubridge, a 15-time world-record holder in the sport, told the New York Times."The world has lost its greatest freediver," Will Trubridge, a 15-time world-record holder in the sport, told the New York Times.
"I don't think anybody would dispute that.""I don't think anybody would dispute that."
Ms Molchanova had two grown-up children, son Alexey - himself a champion freediver - and daughter Oksana.Ms Molchanova had two grown-up children, son Alexey - himself a champion freediver - and daughter Oksana.
She had been looking forward to becoming a grandmother, the family said.She had been looking forward to becoming a grandmother, the family said.
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