Natalia Vadimovna Molchanova (; 8 May 1962 – 2 August 2015) was a Russian champion freediver, multiple world record holder, and the former president of the Russian Free Dive Federation. Described as "possibly the world’s greatest freediver," Molchanova set an unparalleled standard in the sport. She believed, “Freediving is not only a sport, it is a way to understand who you are,” reflecting her deep connection to the sport. Throughout her career, she achieved 42 world records and earned 22 world championship medals, 19 of which were gold.

Personal life Molchanova was born in 1962 in Ufa, Bashkortostan, then part of the Soviet Union.Oksana Gredzheva. Чемпионка мира-2005 по фридайвингу Наталья МОЛЧАНОВА . free-diving.ru (interview in Russian) Molchanova had a son Alexey and daughter Oksana.

Molchanova's son is Russian freediving champion Alexey Molchanov.

On 2 August 2015, Molchanova vanished in Formentera while giving a private lesson. Search efforts were abandoned on 5 August and she was presumed dead.espnW news

Career Before becoming known as "possibly the world's greatest freediver", Natalia Molchanova trained as a swimmer in her youth. After the birth of her two children she semi-retired for approximately 20 years. At the age of 40, she resumed training, transitioning from swimming to freediving. Her first freediving competition was the 2003 Russian championships in Moscow, where she set a national record.

Even after her disappearance in 2015, Molchanova remains one of the world's most decorated freedivers, having set 42 world records—21 pool records and 21 open water—during her career. She also earned 22 world championship medals, including 19 golds. Her final STA world record of 9 minutes and 2 seconds is still not broken after 11 years (standpoint: 2024). At the 2007 Freediving World Championships in Maribor, Slovenia, her winning time in the static discipline was better than the winning male gold medal. In September 2009, she became the first woman to pass 100 meters (328 ft.) diving with constant weight, in a dive to 101 meters (331 ft.) in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. Molchanova was also the first woman to dive on one breath through the Blue Hole arch in Dahab, Egypt. Her record was a dive of 127 metres (417 ft.).The Daily Telegraph, Friday 9 October 2015, Obituary [paper only], p.33

Molchanova later also worked as a freediving instructor at the Russian State University of Physical Education, Sport, Youth and Tourism.

Disappearance On 2 August 2015, Molchanova was reported missing after giving a private lesson dive near Formentera, Spain. She went down to a depth of 40 metres (131 ft.), not as deep as normal; but, caught by a current, without weights, she is thought to have been taken down deeper. She never came up for air. Initial rescue and recovery efforts were unsuccessful. Search and rescue efforts continued for a few days, but she was eventually presumed dead by the search party, including her son, Alexey Molchanov.Wilkinson, Alec, The Disappearance of the World’s Greatest Free Diver, New Yorker, 8 August 2015

The Spanish Civil Code provides that a missing person by shipwreck or amid a dangerous activity shall be declared deceased in absentia three months after a missing report.

See also List of people who disappeared mysteriously at sea

World records

Apnea Association Record Date Location CNF AIDA 70 m 15 May 2014 Dahab (Egypt) FIM 91 m 21 Sep 2013 Kalamata (Greece) CNF 69 m 16 Sep 2013 Kalamata (Greece) STA AIDA 9:02" 28 Jun 2013 Belgrade (Serbia) DYN 234 m 28 Jun 2013 Belgrade (Serbia) DNF 182 m 27 Jun 2013 Belgrade (Serbia) CNF 68 m 25 April 2013 Dahab (Egypt) VWT 127 m 6 Jun 2012 Sharm (Egypt) CNF 66 m 8 May 2012 Dahab (Egypt) FIM 88 m 24 Sep 2011 Kalamata (Greece) CWT 101 m 22 Sep 2011 Kalamata (Greece) CWT 100 m 16 April 2011 Blue Hole (Bahamas) VWT 125 m 16 June 2010 Kalamata (Greece) DYN 225 m 25 April 2010 Moscow (Russia) CNF 62 m 3 Dec 2009 Blue Hole (Bahamas) FIM 90 m* 27 Sep 2009 Sharm (Egypt) CWT 101 m* 25 Sep 2009 Sharm (Egypt) STA 8:23" 21 August 2009 Aarhus (Denmark) DNF 160 m 20 August 2009 Aarhus (Denmark) DYN 214 m 5 October 2008 Lignano (Italy) FIM 85 m 27 July 2008 Crete (Greece) CWT 95 m 25 July 2008 Crete (Greece) CNF 60 m 12 June 2008 Dahab (Egypt) FIM 82 m 10 June 2008 Dahab (Egypt) DNF 149 m 7 July 2007 Maribor (Slovenia) STA 8:00" 6 July 2007 Maribor (Slovenia) DYN 205 m 5 July 2007 Maribor (Slovenia) FIM 80 m 3 June 2006 Dahab (Egypt) DYN 200 m 23 April 2006 Moscow (Russia) STA 7:30" 22 April 2006 Moscow (Russia) DNF 131 m 20 December 2005 Tokyo (Japan) CNF 55 m 7 November 2005 Dahab (Egypt) FIM 78 m 5 November 2005 Dahab (Egypt) CWT 86 m 3 September 2005 Villefranche (France) DNF 124 m 25 August 2005 Renens (Switzerland) STA 7:16" 25 August 2005 Renens (Switzerland) DYN 178 m 25 August 2005 Renens (Switzerland) DYN 172 m 24 April 2005 Moscow (Russia) DNF 108 m 23 April 2005 Moscow (Russia) DYN 155 m 25 April 2004 Moscow (Russia) DYN 150 m 26 May 2003 Limassol (Cyprus)Natalia Molchanova. apneamania.com Note 1: The two records from 2009, 101 m and 90 m, were repealed by the federation eight months after they had been set, due to the introduction of a new rule, which was then applied retroactively. Note 2: Freediving#Competitive apnea defines the various Apnea codes. Record distances are in metres; duration times in minutes and seconds.

Summary: STA - 9 min. 02 sec. DYN - 234 m DNF - 182 m CWT - 101 m CNF - 69 m FIM - 91 m VWT - 127 m

Clarification: STA = Static apnea. Holding the breath as long as possible. DYN = Dynamic apnea with fins. Diving as far as possible (horizontally) with the use of fins or a monofin. DNF = Dynamic apnea without fins. Diving as far as possible (horizontally) without fins. CWT = Constant weight with fins. Diving as deep as possible with the use of fins or a monofin. CNF = Constant weight without fins. Diving as deep as possible without fins. FIM = Free immersion. Diving as deep as possible by pulling down and up the rope. VWT = Variable weight apnea. Using a sled for descent, pulling back up along a line or swimming up with or without fins. NLT = No-limits apnea. Using a sled for descent, and an inflatable bag for ascent, or any other method or technique.

Personal bests Discipline Result Accreditation Time STA 9:02 min AIDA Distance DNF 182 m AIDA DYN 234 m AIDA Depth CNF 70 m AIDA CWT 101 m AIDA FIM 91 m AIDA VWT 127 m AIDA NLT

References

External links

Current Freediving World Records at International Association for the Development of Freediving (AIDA)