Turkish diver Derya Can breaks second free-diving record in three days

ANTALYA

Derya Can broke her first world records in free-diving disciplines in successive attempts off the coast of the Mediterranean resort town of Kaş. AA photo

Diver Derya Can broke the world record on the free immersion apnea without fins discipline today, only two days after breaking another world record on the variable weight apnea off the coast of the Mediterranean resort town of Kaş.
 
Can performed a 71-meter dive on today’s attempt this morning in a total of two minutes and 31 seconds. In the free immersion apnea, athletes use a vertical rope to pull themselves up and down without using swimming aids. She dove the same depth on Oct. 17 in the variable weight apnea, a discipline in which athletes use a weighted sled while diving.
 
Her scheduled third world record attempt on the constant weight apnea discipline was canceled after Can’s coaches did not want further stress her metabolism.
 
Can said she was very happy to achieve the second world record after her dive was repeatedly postponed due to weather conditions. 
 
“This record is very important. Turkey has a very important place in this sport. Today’s record attempt has been tried for the first time and I was the first to venture for it,” Can said, stressing the difficulties of the discipline.
 
“You can’t use fins. You have to pull yourself down then up using a rope. So the strength of your arms is crucial. Other athletes may try to break my record. Then I will try to break the record again,” she said.
 
Can, who had said she applied for a sponsorship to attempt the world record attempts, expressed her wishes that the discipline could be used by the Culture and Tourism Ministry to promote Turkey.
 
She also lamented that athletes competing in her discipline were not being given enough support.