04 June 2025
The U.S. National Freediving Team delivered a remarkable performance at the 2025 CMAS World Championship Freediving Indoor, held from May 18-24 at the iconic Olympic Aquatic Centre in Athens, Greece. The event welcomed 200+ elite athletes from 40+ nations, competing across a wide range of indoor freediving disciplines.
Hosting this championship in Athens carried special significance. Greece is not only the historic cradle of the Olympic Games but also deeply connected to the roots of freediving-known as "apnea," the Greek word for "without breathing." Competing on this symbolic stage made the event all the more meaningful.
This year marked a milestone for the U.S. with our largest indoor world championship team to date-eight exceptional athletes representing five different states:
Avi Kleyman (Team Captain), Erik Cintra, Renee Blundon, Jessica Deady, Natalie Bruce, Pete Zuccarini, Natsuko Saito, and Claire Paris.
Drawn from diverse professional fields such as technology, academia, military service, film, and beyond, these athletes shared one unifying goal: to pursue exceptional personal and collective performance. Their commitment paid off with a series of outstanding achievements:
Natsuko Saito - Masters (M1) National Records in DNF, DYN, DYNB, Static and Speed Apnea 2X50
Claire Paris - Masters (M2) National Records in DNF (Gold Medal/World Record) and DYN (Gold Medal/World Record); DYNB (Gold Medal/World Record)
Pete Zuccarini - DYN Masters national records, and Static silver medal
Natalie Bruce - DNF Senior national record, DYNB Senior national & continental record
Renee Blundon - personal bests
Jessica Deady - personal bests
Erik Cintra - personal bests
Avi Kleyman - personal bests
Feel free to see the updated Records page here on the US Freediving website for more details.
Among the team's milestones, Natsuko Saito made history as the first U.S. athlete to compete in the Speed Apnea discipline in CMAS World Championship, expanding the presence of Team USA into new competitive territory.
​​As freediving continues to grow year after year in the United States, the increasing participation, visibility, and level of performance are a testament to the sport's momentum and the dedication of the U.S. freediving community. This year's turnout and results reflect the rising tide of interest and excellence in American freediving.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our generous sponsors from Molchanovs, Surfur, Evolve, and Lobster whose support was instrumental in helping Team USA prepare and perform at their highest level.
A heartfelt thank you goes as well to the local CMAS organizing committee and our Greek hosts for orchestrating a world-class event. Their exceptional coordination, clear communication, and athlete-focused planning created a streamlined and supportive environment. Thanks to their efforts, Team USA was able to focus entirely on performance, free from unnecessary stress or logistical distractions. To see some recaps of this historic event, visit CMAS TV.
Most importantly, we want to thank our freediving community here in the U.S. Your encouragement, belief in our mission, and generous donations made this journey possible. From every member of Team USA, thank you for standing with us, cheering us on, and helping us represent our country on the world stage.
Together, we held our breath-and made history.
Next up, the 2025 CMAS World Championships Outdoor Freediving which will take place in Mytikas, Greece during the gorgeous Mediterranean month of September. The outdoor team is deep in training for the next few months.
