Claire Paris, Evan Walther Smash US National Pool Freediving Records

Clair Paris and Evan Walther recently each set new women’s and men’s US national pool freediving records in the Dynamic with Bifins discipline.

In December, Paris shattered and extended the Dynamic Bi-Fins record by 11 meters with a performance of 159m/521ft in 2 minutes 40 seconds at the AIDA Tampa Bay Apnea Competition Xmas Edition.

This is Paris’ sixth National Record in pool disciplines. She also broke a CMAS USA National Record in depth with a Free Immersion (FIM) dive to 75m/246ft at the Vertical Blue completion in Long Island, Bahamas earlier that year.

Paris said of the record:

“I keep getting inspired by true and impressive competitors like Talya . In this last competition of the 2021 freediving season I surpassed my previous DYNB record from May, with a solid performance all around. Natalia Molchanova used to say that freediving is about reaching emotions, not distances or depths. Not every National Record is equal, this one was all about emotions, looking inward and surrendering into my connection with water. The moment after the dive was also very emotional with warm embrace of my friend Talya.”

Walther, for his part, at the same competition in December broke the USA DYNB record — twice. He swam 166m/544ft in 2 minutes 10 seconds on his first competition dive, and subsequently swam 175m/574ft in 2 minutes 14 seconds the following day.

“What a weekend,” Walther said:

“So excited to have finished off the year with my first comp, my first record, and my first win. More than that I am surprised, amazed, and grateful how helpful, friendly, and caring the entire freediving competitive community is. I came in not really knowing anyone, with no experience, and not much of a clue. I left with friends, help from so called ‘rivals,’ and advice and encouragement from some of the world’s best freedivers!”