Switching lecture halls for the deep blue, a university lecturer from Gqeberha set a new record for free diving at a Free-diving World Cup in Egypt!
Egypt (18 May, 2023)— Many university students might wonder what their lecturers do when they’re not determining their students’ future. Well, in the case of one Nelson Mandela University lecturer, students, free diving enthusiasts and proud South Africans alike have a pretty good idea.
Recently, Dr Gletwyn Rubidge of NMU’s chemistry faculty had the world holding its breath as he ventured metres down into the deep blue during the Aida Free-diving World Cup’s May Edition in Egypt.
The competition is a six-day long splash with various events, where free divers from around the world get their chance to showcase their skills against all oxygen-odds.
On day two, Rubidge plunged 83 metres deep on one dose of air in the same time it’d take most microwave meals to heat up: 2 minutes and 50 seconds part of the free immersion fixture.
Freediving World shared that his incredible time created a new national record, and soon the Apnea Centre was washed with South African pride.
This isn’t Rubidge’s first time setting new records either. In 2019, he broke three South African records at another international competition and earned South African colours for free diving in the same breath.
Meanwhile, another South African smashed a decades-old track record last week with Adrian Wildschutt putting the previous time-to-beat to bed in California.
From track to the deep and all the other incredible sporting moments in between, we couldn’t be more proud of our South African smashletes.
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