FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
U.S. Freedivers Display Impressive First-Time Appearance at
the 2018 World Freediving Championships in Kaş, Turkey

Kaş, Turkey, October 9, 2018: Five athletes with the United States Freediving Federation (USFF) made history at the 2018 World Freediving Championships as they earned a bronze medal and set new national records, marking a first-time U.S. appearance at the international competition.

Represented by Lance Lee Davis, Daniel Koval, Kristin Kuba, Andrew Khvetkevych and Renee Blundon, Team America went up against more than one hundred and fifty athletes from over thirty countries at the week-long event. Their intensive training and diligent preparation reaped impressive results:

Daniel Koval of Hawaii earned a bronze medal and a new national record for his 95 meter dive in the Free Immersion discipline, sharing the ranking with Samo Jeranko of Slovenia. He also set a new national record of 85 meters in the Constant Weight Bi Fins discipline.
Kristin Kuba of Hawaii set a new national record of 71 meters in the Constant Weight Bi Fins discipline and 70 meters in the Constant Weight Mono Fins discipline.
Renee Blundon of Egypt set a new national record of 62 meters in the Free Immersion discipline.

"The week was absolutely amazing! I had the best dive of my season and never thought I would leave Turkey sharing a medal with my friend, Samo Jeranko, as I look up to and respect him tremendously” says freediver Daniel Koval of Team America. “It was such a great honor to be on the podium next to him, and be able to bring home the first medal for the United States in a CMAS sanctioned competition.”

With much conversation surrounding freediving and its potential inclusion in future Olympic Games, U.S. participation and successful results in international, high-profile competitions, such as the World Freediving Championships, further contribute to the growing momentum in favor of the sport. “I could not have asked for a better team this year. They worked very hard day in and day out – I’m very proud to see these athletes come home with the tremendous honor they rightfully deserve” says Jeremy Stephan, President of the USFF. “We hope to continue to inspire more athletes to get out there and join in this incredible, historical moment for the sport of freediving.”

ABOUT THE USFF

Founded in 2018 by tech entrepreneur and freediver Jeremy Stephan, The United States Freediving Federation is sanctioned under CMAS and the International Olympic Committee. The mission of the U.S. Freediving Federation is to bring awareness to freediving across the United States and support the efforts of all those that engage in the sport, whether it be for self-exploration and adventure, therapeutic benefits, or purely competition – in the safest manner possible.

For a list of national records:
www.usfreedivingfederation.org/records

Follow the USFF on Facebook|US Freediving and on Instagram |@USFreeDiving.

For more information on USFF:
www.usfreedivingfederation.org