Yasemin Dalkiliç
Encyclopedia
Yasemin Dalkılıç is a Turkish
female free diver
. She holds numerous world records in different categories of free diving. Though still in the middle of her career, she is already considered to be one of the all time greats in the sport.
, Turkey
, around 270 km (167.8 mi) away from the nearest coast. At age 14, she was already a member of the national Monofin swimming team, where she stayed for several years and set several Turkish records. By the time she was 16, she had already established herself as the best freediver in her country, and a soon-to-be star of the sport at a world level. In 1996, she became a student in the mathematics department at the Middle East Technical University
in Ankara, where she also became a member of the Subaqua Society.
In 1998 she competed in the Freediving World Cup in Sardinia
, Italy
, where she clinched the first place among the women. A year later, in 1999, Yasemin made an acquaintance that would change her life. International trainer Rudi Castineyra, who would guide world champions Alejandro Ravelo, Tanya Streeter
and David Lee to several world records, showed great interest in Yasemin.
Yasemin started a training regime designed by Rudi Castineyra, which maximized her potential in a very short time. Later that year, she set her first World Record with a dive to 68 m (223.1 ft). In 2000, the duo set their sights on the spectacular Variable Ballast type of freediving, which comprises two challenging categories. On 19 and 23 July respectively, Yasemin shattered the existing world records in the Limited and Unlimited Variable Ballast categories, by raising (or lowering) the bar to 100 m (328.1 ft) and 120 m (393.7 ft) respectively. In the year 2001, she set two more world records, first improving her own mark in the Limited Variable Ballast with a 105 m (344.5 ft) dive in Egypt
and three months later, a second one in the Unassisted Constant Ballast category, with a plunge to 40 m (131.2 ft) in Kaş
, Antalya Province
, Turkey
. Five of her records have been broadcast live on national and international networks, more than any other freediver ever.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
female free diver
Free-diving
Freediving is any of various aquatic activities that share the practice of breath-hold underwater diving. Examples include breathhold spear fishing, freedive photography, apnea competitions and, to a degree, snorkeling...
. She holds numerous world records in different categories of free diving. Though still in the middle of her career, she is already considered to be one of the all time greats in the sport.
Biography
Yasemin Dalkılıç was born and grew up in AnkaraAnkara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, around 270 km (167.8 mi) away from the nearest coast. At age 14, she was already a member of the national Monofin swimming team, where she stayed for several years and set several Turkish records. By the time she was 16, she had already established herself as the best freediver in her country, and a soon-to-be star of the sport at a world level. In 1996, she became a student in the mathematics department at the Middle East Technical University
Middle East Technical University
Middle East Technical University is a public technical university located in Ankara, Turkey...
in Ankara, where she also became a member of the Subaqua Society.
In 1998 she competed in the Freediving World Cup in Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, where she clinched the first place among the women. A year later, in 1999, Yasemin made an acquaintance that would change her life. International trainer Rudi Castineyra, who would guide world champions Alejandro Ravelo, Tanya Streeter
Tanya Streeter
Tanya Streeter is a British/Caymanian world champion free-diver, inducted into the Women Diver's Hall of Fame in March 2000...
and David Lee to several world records, showed great interest in Yasemin.
Yasemin started a training regime designed by Rudi Castineyra, which maximized her potential in a very short time. Later that year, she set her first World Record with a dive to 68 m (223.1 ft). In 2000, the duo set their sights on the spectacular Variable Ballast type of freediving, which comprises two challenging categories. On 19 and 23 July respectively, Yasemin shattered the existing world records in the Limited and Unlimited Variable Ballast categories, by raising (or lowering) the bar to 100 m (328.1 ft) and 120 m (393.7 ft) respectively. In the year 2001, she set two more world records, first improving her own mark in the Limited Variable Ballast with a 105 m (344.5 ft) dive in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and three months later, a second one in the Unassisted Constant Ballast category, with a plunge to 40 m (131.2 ft) in Kaş
Kas
Kas is the brand name of soft drink produced by PepsiCo. It comes in grapefruit, orange , lemon , bitter , and apple flavors. Kasfruit juices are also offered in multiple flavors...
, Antalya Province
Antalya Province
Antalya Province is located on the Mediterranean coast of south-west Turkey, between the Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean sea.Antalya Province is the centre of Turkey's tourism industry, attracting 30% of foreign tourists visiting Turkey. The province of Antalya corresponds to the lands of...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Five of her records have been broadcast live on national and international networks, more than any other freediver ever.
Records
- Unassisted Constant Ballast 40 m, 1:56 min WR on 22 October 2001 in KardamenaKardamenaKardamaina , is a small Greek town 7 km from Kos Island International Airport at Antimacheia, situated mid-way along the south coast of the island of Kos. It lies in the municipal unit of Irakleides, in the Dodecanese...
, on the island of KaşKasKas is the brand name of soft drink produced by PepsiCo. It comes in grapefruit, orange , lemon , bitter , and apple flavors. Kasfruit juices are also offered in multiple flavors...
, AntalyaAntalyaAntalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. With a population 1,001,318 as of 2010. It is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort.- History :...
, TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe... - Limited Variable Ballast 105 m, 2:38 min WR on 15 July 2001 in HurghadaHurghadaHurghada is a city in the Red Sea Governorate of Egypt. It is a main tourist center and second largest city in Egypt located on the Red Sea coast.- Overview :...
by the Island of Abu Ramada in the Red SeaRed SeaThe Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
, EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world... - Unlimited Variable Ballast 120 m WR on 23 July 2000 in BodrumBodrumBodrum is a port city in Muğla Province, in the southwestern Aegean Region of Turkey. It is located on the southern coast of Bodrum Peninsula, at a point that checks the entry into the Gulf of Gökova. The site was called Halicarnassus of Caria in ancient times and was famous for housing the...
, Turkey - Limited Variable Ballast 100 m 2:22 min WR on 19 July 2000 in Bodrum
- Limited Variable Ballast 96 m 2:22 min WR on 14 July 2000 in Bodrum
- Equipment Assisted Constant Ballast 68 m 2:27 min WR on 7 November 1999