The Russian freediver Alexei Molchanov has once again written his name into the history of the sport. At the AIDA World Championships, held this week in Limassol (Cyprus), he reached an astonishing 126 meters in 4 minutes and 46 seconds, setting a new world record in the free immersion discipline. SportsIn had the chance to talk with him to hear first-hand his impressions — and also get to know a more personal side.

“Today it was 126 meters in 4 minutes and 46 seconds,” Molchanov told SportsIn after surfacing, still filled with emotion from the achievement. The Russian emphasized that at a world championship the top priority is the gold medal: “You can’t always set a record and win the medal. Achieving both at the same time is the best combination.”

Alexey Molchanov. (Photo: AIDA)

The new mark surpasses previous records he shared with French freediver Arnaud Jerald in different federations. This time, Molchanov achieved it on the most demanding stage: an AIDA World Championship. Organized by the International Association for the Development of Apnea (AIDA), this event is the sport’s flagship competition and brings together the best specialists from across the globe.

Two decades in Cyprus

Molchanov knows the scene of this feat well. “My first competition in Cyprus was in 2004, when I was 17 years old. I couldn’t compete yet, I came with my mother and I remember doing 30-meter dives. Since then, I’ve been here more than five times,” he recalled. For him, the eastern Mediterranean is almost a lucky charm: calm waters, free of currents, allowing maximum focus before each dive.

The Russian also highlighted the role of AIDA’s safety team: “I know most of the safety team and I trust them. If I don’t feel safe, I can’t push my limit. Here I know help is close, and that’s essential.” According to Molchanov, three factors are key to performing at his best: “Trust in the ocean, trust in the safety team and trust in my own abilities on the day.”

Alexey Molchanov (Photo: Salva La Vigna)

“Freediving has the potential to become an Olympic sport”

At 38 years old, Molchanov is thinking beyond records. He is convinced that freediving should aim for Olympic status: “We already competed at the World Games in China and the public responded very well. The sport has real potential to be part of the Olympic Games.” He also advocates for more amateur participation: “It’s not just about records. Anyone can enjoy diving at 10 or 20 meters. Freediving teaches you to control your nervous system, to handle stress — and that’s useful for life.”

Molchanov inherited his passion for the sea from his mother, Natalia Molchanova, a freediving legend who created an educational methodology that still endures today. “She developed a system for children. Now I continue it with programs for teenagers, focusing more on games and technique rather than maximum results, always with safety.” His school currently has over 100 instructors worldwide and 2,000 coaches for adults.

A life between Moscow and Miami

On a personal level, the world champion divides his time between competitions, training and teaching. He spends part of the year in Moscow and another in the United States, with a base in Miami, Florida. There he prepares events such as the “Gulf Stream Challenge” and new school openings.

Molchanov admits that what attracts him most to freediving is the silence: “In a deep dive there’s no time to think, you’re only in the present moment. It’s a feeling of peace and freedom.” And he concludes: “Competition is just 1% of freediving. The rest is enjoying the ocean, exploring, and being ambassadors for the sea.”