On August 2, World Champion Freediver Natalia Molchanova disappeared during a freedive off the coast of La Savina at Poniente de es Freus near the Spanish island of Ibiza. A press release from AIDA International says the champ was diving to depths between 30-40m when she was reportedly swept away by a strong underwater current.

Search efforts are ongoing and the world-renowned freediver is still missing.

Not only a diver, Molchanova holds a PhD in Pedagogical Science and authored numerous scientific texts. She is also the founder of the Freediving Federation of Russia as well as a proud mother of two.

She once held her breath for 9 minutes

“She was an inspiration to all freedivers and despite being one of the fiercest competitors in the world, she was always calm and relaxed during competitions”- AIDA Press Release

Awards and Accomplishments

• 23 time World Champion in Freediving

• Holds 41 World Records

• dove to a depth of 101m using a fin

• swam a distance of 234m with a fin