Free diving champion Molchanova feared dead in waters off Ibiza

Hopes are fading that the world’s most famous female free diver will be found alive after she went missing three days ago. Natalia Molchanova was diving recreationally without fins at a depth of 30 to 40 meters (33 to 44 yards) off Spain’s Balearic Islands when she failed to resurface on Sunday. She became separated from her three colleagues and probably got caught in a strong underwater current, a joint statement from the international diving federation AIDA and her family explained.

The search for Natalia has not officially ended but, to our great regret, the probability of success is low.

the Russian Free Diving Federation

Molchanova holds 41 world records and has been a world champion 23 times. She is the creator and current president of the Freediving Federation of Russia, and she designed and taught free diving programs all over the world, training thousands of people.

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