Turkish diver Sahika Ercumen sets world record on republic's 100th anniversary

By Mehmet Bayrak, Salim Tas

HATAY, Türkiye (AA) – Famous Turkish diver Sahika Ercumen on Tuesday set a new world record in women's freediving on the 100th anniversary of the republic.

Ercumen, 38, set a record by diving 106 meters in the field of variable weight with no fins in the Turkish Mediterranean.

In her record attempt, she dived into a bay near Hatay to raise awareness for Türkiye's south which was devastated by major earthquakes in early 2023.

The previous holder in women's variable weight with no fins was Lena Balta as the Serbian athlete had set a 105-meter record in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh in June 2022.

The Republic of the Türkiye is set to celebrate its 100th anniversary on Oct. 29.

Ercumen previously broke a 100-meter world record in the same field in 2021.

The United Nations Development Program previously declared Ercumen as Türkiye's ambassador for underwater life.

In 2019, Ercumen was part of Türkiye's 3rd National Antarctic Science Expedition to dive for the Turkish polar base.