The first round of the French Apnea Cup was held this Sunday, November 24, 2024 in Reims, in the Marne. The opportunity, for the forty participants, to compete in this not often known subject.
Hold your breath as long as possible. This is the principle of apnea. But listening to the participants in the French Freediving Cup, a round of which was held this Sunday, November 24 at the UCPA Sports Station in Reims (Marne), it is much more than that.
“It’s a whole philosophy. We dive in. We don’t judge, we see. It’s a beautiful element and it it’s a great time.”explains Maxime de Luca to our journalist Eve Chenu. He started freeing very young, going to a club at the age of 12.
This Rémois, courtesy of Reims Palmes Apnée, which organized this Sunday’s event, claims to find in apnea “relaxation, pacification, self-knowledge”.
It is a very contradictory sport. We have cramps only while we are trying to be released. We put our body against each other, so we must try to have a good harmony.
Maxime de Luca of charge
In the swimming pools, participants do several tests: static apnea, but also dynamic apnea. You must then cover as much length as possible in the pools, with feathers then without, without breathing. The last event is different, it is a sprint, where participants have to complete 50 meters twice as fast as possible.
Everything is done under close supervision. “At the competition level, we have judges who evaluate the performance and safety rescuers who always follow the rescuer in his performance, right above him. “reassures Gwendal Kervern, president of the Grand Est regional apnea commission.
Daphné Michelet had many preconceptions about apnea. “I thought it was really weird to put your head under water and not breathe.” However, she threw herself into the deep end of apnea, after going through difficult times, as she tells us. “It was a source of joy.”
We learn to know ourselves, always pushing our limits a little further.
Daphné Michelet, liberator
This Sunday, she exceeded 4 minutes 30 seconds in static apnea, and reached a distance of 100 meters in dynamic apnea. Satisfaction for those who did not feel that they had any special attraction for competition.
Sunday in Reims corresponds to the first round of the French Cup of the season. “Athletes will collect points based on their performance in statistics and dynamics”explains Gwendal Kervern. At the end of the season, a ranking is made that keeps the two best rounds.
It is a sport that is a good balance between a little physicality, a lot of technique and a lot of mind.
Resisting the vital urge to breathe is not easy. “On the first part, we feel very good, tells of Thomas Gandon, one of the partners. It is pleasant, we are relaxed, we think about our movement and take care of the gesture while saving as much energy as possible. After that, when you reach the half way point, you will feel it getting hard in your lungs. But the goal is to get through this phase successfully, fight against the urge to breathe, and surpass yourself as in any sport.”
This particular discipline is attracting more and more people. The number of licensees has increased in fifteen years from 5,000 to almost 30,000.
2024-11-24 23:48:00
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How does the article portray the relationship between risk and reward in freediving?
## Open-Ended Questions for Discussion:
This article delves into the world of freediving, highlighting its philosophy, challenges, and growing popularity. Let’s explore these themes through thought-provoking questions:
**The Philosophy of Freediving:**
* What attracts people to freediving beyond its physical challenge?
* How does the article describe the mental and emotional aspects of freediving? Share your thoughts on this connection.
* Maxime de Luca calls frediving ”a beautiful element”. What do you think he means by this?
**Challenges and Risks:**
* The article mentions “cramps” and “putting your body against itself”. How does the sport balance the pursuit of personal limits with physical safety?
* What kind of mental preparation might be needed to overcome the urge to breathe while freediving?
* What are the ethical considerations surrounding a sport that involves pushing the limits of human survival?
**The Growing Popularity of Freediving:**
* What factors do you think have contributed to the rise in popularity of freediving?
* The article highlights the growth in freediving licensees. What implications does this trend have for the sport, both positively and negatively?
* Do you think freediving will continue to gain mainstream appeal? What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of wider participation?
**The Reims Freediving Cup:**
* How does the article portray the atmosphere and spirit of the Reims competition?
* What were the motivations of the participants featured in the article?
* What role do competitions like these play in the development and evolution of freediving as a sport?
**Beyond the Article:**
* After reading this article, are you more or less interested in freediving? Why?
* Would you consider trying freediving? What are your concerns or hesitations?
* How do you think advancements in technology and safety measures might influence the future of freediving?
These questions can serve as starting points for an enriching discussion about freediving, exploring its depths both literally and figuratively.
