My name is July, and I am a freediving athlete. Currently, I am the Balearic champion in static apnea and have been training at Megasport for about two years. I am very happy with everything this gym offers and the opportunities it provides to improve my performance.
How did you discover apnea and what motivated you to start?
I discovered apnea as a child. I’ve always loved the sea and water. Initially, I didn’t live near the sea, but I did live near rivers in Colombia, where I would swim with my family. I loved competing with my cousins to see who could hold their breath the longest, and I was always good at it. So, that idea stayed in my mind.
Later, I began my professional career, studying Sports Science and Physical Education, and it was there that I got into adventure sports. During that process, I discovered diving and freediving. I took several courses to get certifications and earned my level one apnea certification. That was when I began exploring the sea and its depths in Colombia, and I loved it.
Seven years ago, I moved to Spain. Due to various circumstances, I never had the chance to train in a pool, but when I changed jobs and reorganized my life, I finally began training more.
What kind of physical and mental preparation is required for freediving?
In terms of physical preparation, the main factor is lung capacity. The greater our lung capacity, the longer we can hold our breath. According to various studies, some people have very high levels of this capacity, and the goal is to develop it gradually, along with endurance.
In terms of physical preparation, apnea doesn’t require a lot of muscle mass, as too much muscle can be counterproductive in the water, increasing energy expenditure.
However, the mental aspect is one of the most important. In apnea, there’s a constant challenge against your own mind. You can hold your breath a little longer, but your mind tells you, “You can’t, come up, you’re going to drown.” That’s why mental training is key in this sport.
What has been your biggest achievement in apnea so far?
Last year, I had the opportunity to participate in the Spanish Championship, representing the Balearic Islands with the Balearic team. I competed in dynamic apnea, a type of apnea that’s performed with bi-fins. In that competition, my biggest achievement, my PB (Personal Best), was 114 meters in dynamic apnea.
More recently, on February 22, I participated in an inter-club competition here in the Balearic Islands, where I set my personal best in static apnea, which involves holding your breath underwater without moving. In that event, I achieved a time of 5 minutes and 8 seconds.
What does training at Megasport mean to you, and how has it influenced your apnea practice?
I used to go to another gym, but I always felt like something was missing. They had one thing, but not the other. When I came to Megasport, it was like, “Wow, I have everything here!”
I always say it’s the best gym for my sport and for what I do. As I mentioned, I studied Sports Science, and I don’t just practice freediving, I also do mountain biking, running, functional training, and Hyrox…
All of this helps reinforce my breathing. Additionally, I use a nose clip in both my strength training and apnea sessions, focusing on holding my breath to work in hypoxia, that is, with a lack of oxygen at a muscular level.
Megasport provides me with all of these possibilities. Although I don’t use the pool to train apnea, the spa helps with relaxation. Spending some time in the water and feeling it on my face activates the mammalian reflex we all have, which also benefits me a lot.
That’s why I love being at Megasport and training here.
What are your next goals?
My upcoming goals are on March 28th and 29th, which is the Balearic Championship, to secure a spot in the Spanish Championship. That’s my main goal right now: to reach the championship and win a medal at the Balearic Championship. After that, I’d also like to participate in the Spanish Championship, although there’s a high level of competition at the national level. But we’re always learning and evolving.
My name is July, and I am a freediving athlete. Currently, I am the Balearic champion in static apnea and have been training at Megasport for about two years. I am very happy with everything this gym offers and the opportunities it provides to improve my performance.
How did you discover apnea and what motivated you to start?
I discovered apnea as a child. I’ve always loved the sea and water. Initially, I didn’t live near the sea, but I did live near rivers in Colombia, where I would swim with my family. I loved competing with my cousins to see who could hold their breath the longest, and I was always good at it. So, that idea stayed in my mind.
Later, I began my professional career, studying Sports Science and Physical Education, and it was there that I got into adventure sports. During that process, I discovered diving and freediving. I took several courses to get certifications and earned my level one apnea certification. That was when I began exploring the sea and its depths in Colombia, and I loved it.
Seven years ago, I moved to Spain. Due to various circumstances, I never had the chance to train in a pool, but when I changed jobs and reorganized my life, I finally began training more.
What kind of physical and mental preparation is required for freediving?
In terms of physical preparation, the main factor is lung capacity. The greater our lung capacity, the longer we can hold our breath. According to various studies, some people have very high levels of this capacity, and the goal is to develop it gradually, along with endurance.
In terms of physical preparation, apnea doesn’t require a lot of muscle mass, as too much muscle can be counterproductive in the water, increasing energy expenditure.
However, the mental aspect is one of the most important. In apnea, there’s a constant challenge against your own mind. You can hold your breath a little longer, but your mind tells you, “You can’t, come up, you’re going to drown.” That’s why mental training is key in this sport.
What has been your biggest achievement in apnea so far?
Last year, I had the opportunity to participate in the Spanish Championship, representing the Balearic Islands with the Balearic team. I competed in dynamic apnea, a type of apnea that’s performed with bi-fins. In that competition, my biggest achievement, my PB (Personal Best), was 114 meters in dynamic apnea.
More recently, on February 22, I participated in an inter-club competition here in the Balearic Islands, where I set my personal best in static apnea, which involves holding your breath underwater without moving. In that event, I achieved a time of 5 minutes and 8 seconds.
What does training at Megasport mean to you, and how has it influenced your apnea practice?
I used to go to another gym, but I always felt like something was missing. They had one thing, but not the other. When I came to Megasport, it was like, “Wow, I have everything here!”
I always say it’s the best gym for my sport and for what I do. As I mentioned, I studied Sports Science, and I don’t just practice freediving, I also do mountain biking, running, functional training, and Hyrox…
All of this helps reinforce my breathing. Additionally, I use a nose clip in both my strength training and apnea sessions, focusing on holding my breath to work in hypoxia, that is, with a lack of oxygen at a muscular level.
Megasport provides me with all of these possibilities. Although I don’t use the pool to train apnea, the spa helps with relaxation. Spending some time in the water and feeling it on my face activates the mammalian reflex we all have, which also benefits me a lot.
That’s why I love being at Megasport and training here.
What are your next goals?
My upcoming goals are on March 28th and 29th, which is the Balearic Championship, to secure a spot in the Spanish Championship. That’s my main goal right now: to reach the championship and win a medal at the Balearic Championship. After that, I’d also like to participate in the Spanish Championship, although there’s a high level of competition at the national level. But we’re always learning and evolving.
