Hidden depths

Chinese freediver Ning Jingyu sets a national record in women's Constant Weight Freediving at the 2024 CMAS World Cup in the Philippines in May, reaching a depth of 101 meters. Her next goal is to challenge the Asian record, which is 106 meters and currently held by Japanese athlete Hanako Hirose. Provided to CHINA DAILY

Ning Jingyu had no intention of becoming a competitive freediver when she first signed up for a beginner's class in July 2019. She was simply drawn to the images of people diving with whales and wanted similar pictures of her own.

However, five years later, on May 14, Ning set a national record in women's CWT (Constant Weight Freediving) at the 2024 CMAS World Cup in the Philippines, reaching a depth of 101 meters.

Freediving is a sport that requires divers to hold their breath while either swimming horizontally as far as possible (in pool competitions) or descending as deep as possible (in depth competitions).

Traditionally, at 40 and a mother of a 9-year-old, Ning might have been considered past the prime age for sports, but she doesn't see age as a barrier in freediving. She explained that freediving is best performed with a low heart rate, because that means the body isn't consuming too much oxygen — a crucial factor when you have only one breath to rely on.

"At 40, I find it easier to maintain a calm state of mind," Ning said. "My slower metabolism also means my body needs less oxygen to function compared to younger athletes."

Ning didn't always possess this zen outlook. When she first took up freediving, she was managing her banquet planning business, a stressful and demanding job that required long hours, late nights, and meticulous attention to detail.

"I was always easily agitated," she recalled.

Chinese freediver Ning Jingyu sets a national record in women's Constant Weight Freediving at the 2024 CMAS World Cup in the Philippines in May, reaching a depth of 101 meters. Her next goal is to challenge the Asian record, which is 106 meters and currently held by Japanese athlete Hanako Hirose. Provided to CHINA DAILY

But, freediving required the exact opposite. "Unlike most sports, where you need to stimulate the pump of adrenaline for better performance, in freediving, once you get excited, you're doomed," she said.

This is why Ning began teaching herself meditation. Now, she dedicates about an hour every day to meditation, whether she's working in Beijing or training in the Philippines. "It has become a part of my life, a routine as essential as the three meals of the day," she said.

Meditation helped her to better concentrate on, and enjoy, each dive, at least during the descent, because that is before the urge to breathe strikes, and her thigh muscles start to ache from the continuous kicking of the fins.

She began training with various competitive freedivers in 2022, steadily pushing her boundaries, one meter at a time.

Progressing from 40 to 50, then 60 and 70, by the end of 2022, Ning was able to reach a depth of 80 meters, which prompted her decision to participate in competitions scheduled in the Philippines the following year.

In July 2023, at the AIDA Panglao Depth Games, Ning accomplished a successful dive to 91 meters, propelling her to the position of third-ranked in China — and eighth in the world — in women's CWT.

Ning's path to becoming a record-holder was far from straightforward or easy, because she doesn't have the ideal height or build for a freediver.

Just as taller swimmers enjoy advantages such as longer arms and legs, aiding their speed in the water, many top female freedivers — like Alessia Zecchini from Italy, Alenka Artnik from Slovenia, and Jung A-kim from South Korea — stand at least around 1.7 meters or ever taller, while Ning is only 1.58.

Also, Ning wasn't particularly athletic before she took up freediving. As a result, she lacked the muscle and leg strength typical of many top divers, causing her to tire easily when kicking fast.

Chinese freediver Ning Jingyu sets a national record in women's Constant Weight Freediving at the 2024 CMAS World Cup in the Philippines in May, reaching a depth of 101 meters. Her next goal is to challenge the Asian record, which is 106 meters and currently held by Japanese athlete Hanako Hirose. Provided to CHINA DAILY

To overcome these limitations, she had to train harder. She started practicing free sparring, which not only strengthened her leg muscles and cardiovascular system, but also improved her flexibility. In Beijing, where open water is hard to come by, she made it a habit to train regularly in swimming pools to refine her fin technique and boost her ability to hold her breath.

However, there is still a big difference between pool training and open water training. This is why many professional freedivers choose to live and train year-round in Southeast Asia. But, Ning can only spend a few months in the Philippines every year before having to return to Beijing for her family and business.

"Every family is different. I don't have to be confined to the traditional expectations of mothers always being present for their children," she said. "Besides, my daughter is proud of me. Although she may not fully understand the significance of a national record, she knows that her mom won first place in a competition."

Chinese freediver Ning Jingyu sets a national record in women's Constant Weight Freediving at the 2024 CMAS World Cup in the Philippines in May, reaching a depth of 101 meters. Her next goal is to challenge the Asian record, which is 106 meters and currently held by Japanese athlete Hanako Hirose. Provided to CHINA DAILY

As for Ning's business, she has been making adjustments since her decision to pursue freediving seriously, by stepping back from the forefront, where she was often on edge.

Ning's goal for next year is to challenge the Asian record for women's CWT, which is 106 meters, currently held by Japanese athlete Hanako Hirose.

But, she added, freediving is not about competing with others, but with oneself.

"I believe that's the essence of freediving. You can't rush it; you can't see others as your rivals; you can only focus on yourself and your own progress," Ning said. "In some other sports, you might be able to push yourself and see quick results, but in freediving, haste won't get you anywhere. You need patience and the right mindset to succeed."