An Irishwoman has set a new freediving world record.
Nina McGowan, dived to a depth of 43 metres in 2 mins and 10 seconds at a pre-competition event in Turkey.
The 50 year old, who's originally from Balbriggan in Co. Dublin, is representing Ireland at the CMAS Freediving Outdoor World Championships.
Nina took up the extreme sport in 2019 - but already holds four national records - and can hold her breath for three and a half minutes.
Her achievement came in the women's master category.
Best of luck to our DCSWP HEROutdoors spokesperson, Nina McGowan Competeing in the CMAS Masters World Freediving Championships in Kas,Turkey this weekend. pic.twitter.com/GnaE3LVKdW
— Dublin City Sport & Wellbeing Partnership (@dccsportsrec) September 30, 2022
''When I turned 50 in May, one of the things I wanted to do was to show other women that they can do anything - your bodies are not falling apart, you can keep going," she said.
'My dad was a scuba diver, so I had always known how to swim – I started swimming before I could walk'
Free diving is an extreme sport which involves diving under water without any breathing apparatus.
Competitors attempt to reach as low a depth as possible.
Nina, who can hold her breath for around three-and-a-half minutes, specialises in the ‘No Fins' category - considered the hardest and most athletic form of Free diving.
Nina is now setting her sights on another record when she competes in Thursday's competition.
She said: 'There have never been any Irish people going to this competition before, so I’m excited to be here and will give it my best shot.'
