03 January 2025
Los Angeles, CA - Home of the 2028 Olympic Games
USFF APPOINTS TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
The US Freediving Federation (USFF) of CMAS has been making moves to expand the organization and position it along side the growth of freediving throughout the United States. With the large number of new certifications achieved during the pandemic, interest in recreational and competitive freediving is at an all time high. Over the last 12 months, the USFF has sanctioned three (3) depth competitions and one (1) pool competition and sent athletes to both the indoor and outdoor world championships.
To help ensure that the technical standards and competition guidelines are maintained, as well as bring more infrastructure to judging and event structures, the USFF has appointed Francesca Koe to the position of Technical Director for the calendar years of 2025-2026.
Francesca Koe is looking forward to serving as the Technical Director for the United States Freediving Federation of CMAS (2025-2026) and bringing to bear a foundation of extensive experience to this new position for USFF.
The former VP of U.S.A. Freediving (2022-2024), Francesca is an internationally recognized CMAS and AIDA judge for both depth and for pool; she is also a certified doping officer for WADA protocols, a multi-agency & multi-disciplinary dive instructor, and a person who loves spending time in the water protecting ecosystems, harvesting seafood and sharing adventures with friends from around the world. Francesca has contributed to Vertical Blue for over a dozen years integrating roles of safety, judging, production & communications. Additionally, Francesca has served as a head judge for various annual international competitions such as Blue Element, the Freedom Depth Games, DEEP DOMINICA and the UNU Freediving Challenge – for as many years as they have been organized – always with an eye towards ensuring best-practices, a focus on safety and knowledge sharing.
When she is not in the water (or judging comps) Francesca combines her love of the marine environment and in-depth knowledge of conservation policy on the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) Advisory Council. Instrumental in a host of national and state policies, most recently Francesca seeded the launch of the first-ever in-water Kelp Restoration project for the Greater Farallones Association (GFA) with unprecedented federal funding thanks to her tireless advocacy. You can find her on the ‘gram at @KelpPrincess.
Please help us in welcoming Francesca to the US Freediving Federation of CMAS. We look forward to her contribution in helping the USFF to continue growing the sport of freediving in the United States, and representing us on the world stage.
