National diver Şahika Ercümen breaks world record

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Şahika Ercümen, a national diver, broke the world record at variable weight freediving without using breathing on October 26.

Ercümen managed to complete a 100-meter dive in 2 minutes and 53 seconds in offshore Kaş in Turkey's Mediterranean province of Antalya.

Speaking to Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) afterwards, Ercümen has said that she was also without her swim fins and dived into 100 meters with the help of a weight but then reached the sea surface, gripping a rope, which was a hard objective to accomplish.

Şahika Ercümen previously "dedicated her success to Turkish soldiers and the 98th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey", which is marked as the "Republic Day" today (October 29).

The diver stated that she did not train for nearly two years due to the coronavirus pandemic as she previously tested positive for the virus.

She said that the disease frightened her so much as she suffers from asthma: "I thought my sports career was over (when she started workouts). It was very hard but I adjusted myself very quickly after several training sessions. And I took my best degrees in a short time."

She noted that mental power and belief are the key factors for success, saying that "she can hold her breath for a long time underwater thanks to her iron will" as she recently set a new world record in freediving.

"Diving is a sporting branch that requires mental strength and belief. If you do not believe in yourself and your mind is not ready, it is not easy to stay underwater without breathing for so much time," she has added.

Ercümen, who is also a diet expert, was named Turkey's life below water advocate by the United Nations Development Programme in 2020 to raise environmental awareness. In 2019, she was part of Turkey's Antarctic science expedition team to travel to the frozen continent. Ercümen dived without an air tank in Antarctica. (EMK/SD)