Tunisian freediver Walid Boudhiaf aims for new records and developing the sport at home

Tunisian freediver Walid Boudhiaf, an international champion and former world record holder, is dedicated to both breaking records and popularizing freediving in Tunisia, he explained to AFP. Spending half his year training in Colombia and the Bahamas, Boudhiaf discovered freediving by chance in his 20s while in a Bogota swimming pool, far from the sea. His passion, combined with rigorous training, led him to a record-breaking 150-meter dive, in the variable weieght caterogry,  in Egypt in 2021 and a world championship in 2022.

Beyond competitions, Boudhiaf aims to inspire Tunisians, noting that many practice freediving unknowingly through spearfishing. Freediving, he explains, is accessible, affordable, and a natural way to connect with marine life. His efforts focus on showing that freediving promotes not only physical fitness but also mental well-being. As he trains for the 2025 Vertical Blue competition- what he calls the Wimbledon of free diving- Boudhiaf dreams of a thriving freediving culture in his homeland.