Turkish diver Sahika Ercumen sets new world record for Gaza

Turkish national athlete Sahika Ercumen has set a new world record in freediving during a special demonstration dedicated to raising awareness for Gaza. The champion diver reached 107 meters in the variable weight without fins category, surpassing her previous record of 106 meters in a dive lasting 3 minutes and 21 seconds.

A Dive with Deeper Meaning

The record-breaking attempt in Antalya's Mediterranean waters carried significant symbolic weight. Upon surfacing, Ercumen and her team displayed Turkish and Palestinian flags alongside banners reading "Let Gaza Breathe." The dive was explicitly dedicated to drawing international attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza and commemorating the 102nd anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye.

Emotional Achievement for Türkiye

In post-dive comments, Ercumen described unique emotional pressure surrounding this attempt. "Representing my country as a national athlete is deeply meaningful to me," she stated. "I'm overwhelmed with emotion because not only did we bring a world record to Türkiye, but we also managed to deliver a message from our country to the whole world." She noted the coincidence that exactly ten years earlier, during another record attempt, she had also advocated for Gaza during a period of conflict.

Personal Connection to the Cause

Ercumen drew powerful parallels between her athletic discipline and the plight of Gazans. "I wanted to hold my breath in the water for Gaza so they could breathe," she explained. "I know very well what it feels like not to breathe for minutes, and they have been subjected to this oppression for far too long." Despite challenging preparation conditions including storms that canceled training sessions, Ercumen credited her team's support for enabling the record achievement.