A remarkable week in Budapest saw AIDA South Africa claim a world title, five Continental Records and several personal best performances.
Budapest, Hungary (17 June 2026) – South Africa’s freedivers returned from Budapest with plenty to celebrate after producing one of the country’s most successful performances at a World Championship event.
Leading the charge was Bevin Reynolds, who was crowned Overall Female World Champion at the 2026 World Apnea Pool Championships and received the prestigious Natalia Molchanova Award, recognising the best overall female athlete at the competition.
The achievement capped off a remarkable week for the AIDA South Africa team, which also produced five new Continental Records while competing against some of the world’s best freedivers in Hungary.
For Reynolds, the victory carried even greater significance. Her world title comes after recovering from a serious motorbike accident and ACL reconstruction surgery, making her return to the top of the sport even more inspiring.
South Africa’s success did not stop there.
Fiona de Sousa delivered an outstanding performance in the Women’s Static Apnea discipline, claiming a bronze medal with a breath-hold of seven minutes and 25 seconds while also setting a new Continental Record.
Anton de Wet added another Continental Record in Static Apnea, helping South Africa finish the championships with an impressive haul of five continental marks.
AIDA South Africa Chairman Alessandro Sacerdote praised the team’s achievements.
“These results represent an exceptional milestone for freediving in South Africa. To see our athletes competing at the highest level of the sport and achieving performances of this calibre is incredibly rewarding. We are immensely proud of every athlete who stepped onto the competition floor and demonstrated the dedication, professionalism and sportsmanship that define our community.”
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“World Championship performances are built long before athletes arrive in the competition pool. Behind every result are countless hours of training, preparation, travel, sacrifice and perseverance.”
With a world champion, five Continental Records and several personal bests, South Africa’s performances in Budapest have placed the country firmly among the sport’s rising forces.
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