French Free Diver Arnaud Jerald Breaks 2 World Records at Vertical Blue 2021

Richard Mille's latest brand ambassador French free diver Arnaud Jerald breaks two world records for free-diving—with one of them being his own—at this year's Vertical Blue

What is more impressive than breaking one world record? Breaking two in under a week—that's what. French free diver Arnaud Jerald did just that at the 2021 Vertical Blue (VB) free-diving competition. Not content with just shattering the world record at 116 meters on his first attempt on the first day of the competition, Jerald went on to top that with the awe-inspiring 117 metres on his bi-fins.

“The second dive was more difficult ... I was very focused, and I am very happy with my technique. ..I felt more pressure because it’s the first time that I broke my own world record... [Previously] I was beating someone else’s mark,” said Jerald about his latest world record for free-diving in the constant weight with bi-fins category.

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This achievement marks the young French diver's third world record he has set since beginning his career in 2017. This is also the real-time debut for the Richard Mille (RM) 032 Automatic Winding Flyback Chronograph Diver’s Watch in competitive conditions where the timepiece's performance was tested; it was specifically developed to withstand the extreme pressure levels of deep-sea diving.

Jerald had arrived a month ahead of his fellow competitors in the Bahamas, where the VB was held from July 13 to July 23, to begin his training for the competition in The Dean's Blue Hole.

Not only is this the world's second deepest Blue Hole at 202 metres in depth, but it is also an idyllic locale away from currents and winds, perfect for the 15 practice dives Jerald undertook ahead of the competition.

“It was a great pleasure to train here in this magical place, the Deans Blue Hole, and today I was in a pure state of flow. I worked hard this year to have more comfort in my dives ... I am lucky to be able to train at Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille, alongside Florent Manaudou and the brightest French swimmers,” Jerald said about the training leading up to his world record-breaking achievement at VB.

“I love this group energy, they push me. I am happy to contribute to my sport. Who knows how deep we will be able to go?”

A French diving prodigy

First discovering his love for freediving at the age of seven when his father brought him spearfishing, Jerald has come a long way from simply being a rising star in the world of freediving.

Since beginning his professional freediving career in 2017 at the age of 20, Jerald has been a rookie to watch. In his debut alone, he won both the French National Championships and also took home a bronze medal at the European Championships.

As of 2021, having broken two world records in a single competition including one of his own, the now 25-year-old French diver has a total of four world records under his belt. Jerald broke his first world record in May 2019 at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt at the Russian Championship at 108 metres in depth. He later achieved his second world record in 2020 amidst the global pandemic when he organised a world record attempt and succeeded at breaking it at 112 metres.

Topics

Free-Diving French Vertical Blue Bahamas World Record Richard Mille Arnaud Jerald Free Diver

Tatler Asia

French Free Diver Arnaud Jerald Breaks 2 World Records at Vertical Blue 2021

A French diving prodigy