Beating the Odds

With just one breath in the lungs. 91 metres down, one way. In an endless blue hole, among pressure equalisations, silver tarpons and curious sharks, between 6 and 11 August 2019, we find freediver Sofia Tapani. Together with coach Linda Stenman she has made a journey marked by freezing sinuses, brutal stamina tests and mental training. Because this year only one thing counts, beat the odds:
91 metres ’19.

“Down there it’s just me, me and the darkness. But freediving is not a one-woman show; it is vital teamwork. A journey that is impossible to make alone. Without Linda I would never have managed the physical and mental strain,” says Sofia.

In August, the record that has shaped their lives in recent years, 90 metres with fins, is to be broken. Years of deliberate bike rides into headwinds, apnea training (including gym sessions where you hold your breath) and fine-tuning in the Valhalla pool reach their peak, or rather their depth, in August. The road from now to then will include many dives, in Norwegian ice holes, Egypt’s Blue Hole and the clear green waters of Gullmarsfjorden.

“Seven years ago we competed against each other. In a sport that is really about learning from each other, we quickly found that we shared the same drive. When we started training together at Gothenburg Apnea Society (GAS), I found myself standing in amazement at how Sofia just kept going,” says coach Linda, two-time Swedish champion in depth with fins, and adds:

“And since the records in 2017 we have shifted up another gear. A journey that has been incredibly tough and challenging, but above all full of memories. Now we are going back to the record waters again. Back to Roatán in Honduras.”

We at Oddwork are proud to sponsor freedivers Sofia Tapani and Linda Stenman in their pursuit of 91 metres ’19.

Familiar record waters
Sofia has swum deep in Roatán’s crystal-clear waters before, and set two Swedish records: in depth without fins (51 metres) and in depth with a rope (74 metres). Since then, Sofia and Linda have eaten, trained and recovered for the big record dream in the depth-with-fins discipline. This year it will become reality.

Among sharks, tropical colourful fish, turtles and tiny seahorses is where freedivers feel most at home. And we at Oddwork, as proud sponsors and with bated breath, get to follow this tough effort up close. You can follow their journey towards the records in Roatán every month on our social channels. Because there, at the height of summer, the CMAS Freediving World Championship will be decided. 91 metres ’19.

Dare to dream, beat the odds and become
the revolution you want to see,
Jacob Lingefjärd
Copywriter
Oddwork

Why does Oddwork sponsor athletes like Sofia and Linda?
We at Oddwork are convinced that the world would be a better place if everyone followed their dreams. Sponsoring athletes like Sofia and Linda in pursuit of their big dream is therefore our dream. They have all our admiration and support on the way to 91 metres ’19. Dare to dream, beat the odds and become the revolution you want to see.

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