Breaking Boundaries: Singaporean Freedivers Set Four National Records at Australian Championships

Two Singaporean female athletes, Paola Seow and Patricia Paige Ong, have made history by setting four national records at the Australian National Freediving Championships. 

This is the first time Singaporean athletes have participated in an overseas pool freediving event accredited by the Underwater Sports Federation (CMAS), marking a significant milestone for the sport in the country.

Paola Seow delivered an exceptional performance in static apnea, with a dive time of 5 minutes and 27 seconds, securing second place overall in the discipline and a CMAS national record for Singapore.

Patricia Paige Ong achieved notable success in all three dynamic apnea disciplines: Dynamic (DYN) using a monofin for propulsion, Dynamic with Bifins (DYNBF), and Dynamic with no fins (DNF). Ong covered distances of 180.53m in DYN, 157.12m in DYNBF, and 101m in DNF, setting national records in each category.

Ong’s results placed her third overall in the championship. Her success was a surprise to many, given she was relatively unknown to the Australian freediving community, demonstrating Singapore’s competitiveness in this global sport.

This achievement at a major CMAS event is a positive development for Singaporean freediving. Until now, most local competitions were overseen by the International Association for the Development of Apnea (AIDA) and were not supported by Singaporean sports bodies. CMAS is recognised by the Olympics and World games, hence success in their events could attract more interest and support for Singaporean athletes.

The journey to the Australian National Freediving championships was not without challenges. Ong, who had to self-fund her trip and juggle training with two jobs, highlighted the high financial, physical, and mental costs. Despite these challenges, she remained resolute and was thankful for the support provided by her coach, Fu Xingqiang, and his freediving school, FXQ, who assisted with training and equipment. 

Expressing confidence in the future of Singaporean freediving, Coach Xingqiang stated, “I predict we will have athletes competing for continental records within the next year, and in the top ten in the world within three years, if the appropriate support is given.”

Seow and Ong’s achievements offer a glimpse into the potential of Singaporean athletes in the world of freediving. Their success serves as an important signal for the need for more support and resources to further develop Singapore’s presence in the sport.