“Previously I’d always been a land creature,” he says. “I was working as a sports psychologist in France when I first began freediving, but even before then there was always an element of risk in the sorts of sports and the sorts of people I was around – everything from base jumping, kickboxing, lots of surfers and even MotoGP racing. Danger has always been there and it’s something I’m undoubtedly drawn to.”
It seemed likely the diver’s incredible respiratory system was going to play a part in any record attempt. His massive lung capacity means that he can hold his breath in a swimming pool for three minutes whilst doing up to 240m in lengths. He can also, when stationary, go eight minutes without needing to breathe, and can complete ocean dives of 100m on a single breath in normal temperatures.
ON EVERY ATTEMPT WE FELT WE WERE GETTING CLOSER, BUT
MENTALLY IT BECOMES SO TOUGH TO TRY TO REGROUP AND GO AGAIN
“I knew I had something in me that was going to give me a chance of doing something special. In fact, when I had my first crack at the world record, I was supremely confident – anxious, but still very happy with how my preparation had gone and all of the training that I had put in. I surveyed my surroundings, made sure that everything was good to go and took aim with my dive. “Once I was in the water, I felt that I was going far quicker in my descent than I had gone before and supposed it was the adrenaline. A little computer tells me when I reach 50m, so I knew where I was during the dive. I touched the waterbed, turned and was making my way back to the surface when it all came down on top of me. I knew that something was wrong and seriously doubted whether I’d get back up to the surface.
“Thankfully I made it back and was okay, but we quickly realised the belt I was wearing for the dive was far too heavy. These are the small margins we are talking about and they can be potentially life-threatening.”
That was the first of five failures. “On every attempt we felt we were getting closer, but mentally it becomes so tough to try to regroup and go again.” The fact Williams has a wife and a 13-year-old son only adds to the pressure to get things right… or rather, to ensure they don’t go wrong. “My family are very trusting of my exploits and are confident that I do things in the right way and would never put myself in danger just to achieve records, but they are conversations that we need to have regularly. And if they think I’m wrong, they will tell me!
Williams, who is now taking time out to swim with hump- backed whales in the Arctic and Antarctic, admits the next challenge will be just around the corner.
“At the heart of it I am driven to go out there to try to achieve things no-one else has done, but in reality I am just a normal guy,” he smiles. “And although I have set a world record and achieved something I thought was previously unimaginable, I am just the same person… I’m hugely thankful to my family and the people around me who continue to support me, I trust them with my life.”
© Yngve Gronvik/dykkerekord
© Yngve Gronvik/dykkerekord
ONBOARD | AUTUMN 2019 | 47
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