Alexey Molchanov

Last updated

Alexey Molchanov
Alexey Molchanov, Danmark, Aarhus, 5th Individual freediving World Championship, 2009.jpg
Personal information
NationalityRussian
Born (1987-03-06) 6 March 1987 (age 38)
Volgograd, Russia
Sport
Sport Freediving
Medal record
Men's freediving
World Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2025 Chengdu DYN
World Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg Lausanne 2005 STA
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg Lausanne 2005 DYN
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg Lausanne 2005 DNF
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg AIDA World Championship (Maribor 2007) DYN
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg AIDA World Championship (Maribor 2007) DNF
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 4th AIDA Individual World Championship CNF
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg Aarhus 2009 STA
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg Bahamas 2009 CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Kalamata, Greece 2013 CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Sardinia, Italy 2014 CWT
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg Kalamata, Greece 2016 CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Limassol, Cyprus 2015 CNF
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Limassol, Cyprus 2015 CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Kaş, Turkey 2018 CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Kaş, Turkey 2018 FIM
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Roatán, Honduras 2019 CNF
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Roatán, Honduras 2019 CWTB
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Roatán, Honduras 2019 CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Roatán, Honduras 2019 FIM
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt 2020 CWTB
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Limassol, Cyprus 2021 CWTB
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Limassol, Cyprus 2021 FIM
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Limassol, Cyprus 2021 CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Kaş, Turkey 2021 CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Kaş, Turkey 2021 FIM
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg BonAbyss 2023 VWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg BonAbyss 2023 VWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg AIDA Oceanquest Philippines 2023 CWTB
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 10th Outdoor French CMAS Championship CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Vertical Blue 2023 FIM
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Vertical Blue 2023 CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Roatán, Honduras CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Roatán, Honduras CNF
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Roatán, Honduras CWTB
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg AIDA World Championship Limassol 2023 CWTB
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg AIDA World Championship Limassol 2023 CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 33rd AIDA World Championship, Corsica 2024 CWTB
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 33rd AIDA World Championship, Corsica 2024 CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 8th CMAS Freediving World Championship, Kalamata 2024 CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 8th CMAS Freediving World Championship, Kalamata 2024 CNF
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 8th CMAS Freediving World Championship, Kalamata 2024 CWTB
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg UNU AIDA Tampa Bay Challenge 2024 DYN
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg The World Games Series, Chengdu 2025 DYN
Vertical Blue
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Bahamas 2017 CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Bahamas 2018 CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Bahamas 2018 FIM
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Bahamas 2021 FIM
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Bahamas 2021 CWT
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Bahamas 2021 CNF
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Bahamas 2021 CWTB
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Bahamas 2023 FIM
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg Bahamas 2023 CWT

Alexey Olegovich Molchanov (born 6 March 1987) is a Russian free diver. He is multiple world champion in freediving, the current world record holder in various freediving disciplines, president of the Freediving Federation, head of the Natalia Molchanova Freediving School, ambassador for the Lake Baikal Foundation, and the founder and equipment designer for the Molchanovs freediving brand. He is the son of Natalia Molchanova, a multiple world champion and freediving record holder.

Contents

Career

Alexey Molchanov set his first freediving world record in 2008, swimming 250 meters underwater in a pool with a monofin on a single breath. Since then, he has focused on depth disciplines and competing in open water.

In 2012, he set a world record in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, diving to 125 meters with a monofin. Later that year, he broke his own record by diving to 126 meters in Dean's Blue Hole in the Bahamas. At the 2013 AIDA World Championship in Kalamata, Greece, he set a new world record of 128 meters. In 2016, he improved it to 129 meters in Baia, and in 2018, he achieved 130 meters in the Bahamas, once again surpassing his own mark. This achievement was featured in the Netflix sports documentary series *Religion of Sports*. In 2021, during the Vertical Blue competition, he extended the record to 131 meters. In August 2023, at the CMAS World Championship, Molchanov reached a depth of 136 meters, setting another absolute depth record in competitive freediving, a performance he confirmed in September under AIDA rules.

Originally a competitive swimmer, Alexey began freediving in his teens when his mother, Natalia Molchanova, was already a champion. She developed a unique instructional method that helped establish her as one of the greatest competitive freedivers in history and contributed significantly to the sport's popularity in Russia. Following in her footsteps, Alexey not only leads the Freediving Federation but also founded Molchanovs, a company that provides education and manufactures freediving gear.

Personal life

From 2016 to 2024, he was married to Elena Molchanova (née Sokolova), a Russian swimmer, Universiade champion (2013), and participant in the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Olympics. She holds the title of International Master of Sports of Russia.[ citation needed ]

Children: Maksim Alexeyevich Molchanov (born 17 February 2021).[ citation needed ]

Personal bests

Filmography

Records and medals

Apnea Date Place Event Record Stands as
DYN 19 April 2004 Moscow freediving Russian Championship 158 m Russian record
FIM 23 November 2004 Egypt Open Swedish freediving competitions 66 m Russian record
VWT 30 November 2004 Egypt Registration of records in Blue Hole 76 m Russian record
DNF 23 April 2005 Moscow freediving Russian Championship 107 m Russian record
DYN 24 April 2005 Moscow freediving Russian Championship 171 m Russian record
DYN 25 August 2005 Lausanne, Switzerland first individual freediving World Championship 199 m Russian record, bronze medal
STA 26 August 2005 Lausanne, Switzerland first individual freediving World Championship 6 min. 31 sec. Russian record
DNF 27 August 2005 Lausanne, Switzerland first individual freediving World Championship 124 m Russian record
DNF 27 August 2005 Lausanne, Switzerland first individual freediving World Championship 131 m Russian record, silver medal
CWT 1 September 2005 France, Nice freediving World Championship 82 m Russian record
CNF 7 November 2005 Egypt, Dahab Triple Depth 52 m Russian record
DYN 23 April 2006 Moscow Russian Championship 200 m Russian record
CNF 30 May 2006 Egypt, Dahab Triple Depth 60 m Russian record
CWT 7 December 2006 Egypt, Hurgada Team World Championship 83 m Russian record
DYN 9 December 2006 Egypt, Hurgada Team World Championship 207 m Russian record
STA 9 June 2007 Moscow Russian championship 6 min. 59 sec. Russian record
DYN 5 July 2007 Slovenia, Maribor freediving World Championship 213 m Russian record, silver medal
DNF 7 July 2007 Slovenia, Maribor freediving World Championship 157 m Russian record, silver medal
CNF 3 November 2007 Egypt, Sharm-el-Sheikh 4th individual freediving World Championship 65 m Russian record, bronze medal
DYN 27 April 2008 Moscow open Moscow Cup 222 m Russian record
CWT 25 July 2008 Greece, Crete, Sugia International freediving competition: Mediterranean Cup 91 m Russian record
CWT 27 July 2008 Greece, Crete, Sugia International freediving competition: Mediterranean Cup 101 m Russian record
FIM 1 August 2008 Egypt, Dahab International freediving competition 90 m Russian record
STA 4 October 2008 Italy, Lignano-Sabbiadoro European Cup 7min. 31sec. Russian record
DYN 5 October 2008 Italy, Lignano-Sabbiadoro European Cup 250 m World Record, Historic Record
STA 20 August 2009 Danmark, Aarhus 5th Individual freediving World Championship 8 min. 02 sec. Russian record
STA 21 August 2009 Danmark, Aarhus 5th Individual freediving World Championship 8 min. 31 sec. Russian record, silver medal
CNF 25 September 2009 Egypt, Sharm-el-Sheikh International competition Ruler of the depth 80 m Russian record
CNF 27 September 2009 Egypt, Sharm-el-Sheikh International competition Ruler of the depth 83 m Russian record
CWT 1 December 2009 Bahamas, Long Island 6th individual freediving World Championship 102 m Russian record
CWT 3 December 2009 Bahamas, Long Island 6th individual freediving World Championship 111 m Russian record, silver medal
FIM 24 September 2011 Greece, Kalamata 7th individual freediving World Championship 100 m Russian record
CWT 25 November 2012 Bahamas, Long Island 126 m World record [1]
FIM 29 November 2012 Bahamas, Long Island 107 m Russian record
CNF 25 April 2013 Egypt, Dahab Russian National Open Competition, 2013 85 m Russian record
CNF 27 April 2013 Egypt, Dahab Russian National Open Competition, 2013 90 m Russian record, continental record
DNF 27 June 2013 Belgrade Individual AIDA pool World Championships, 2013 195 m Russian record
STA 29 June 2013 Belgrade Individual AIDA pool World Championships, 2013 8:33 Russian record
CWT 19 September 2013 Kalamata Kalamata Open, 2013 128 m World record, gold medal
FIM 21 September 2013 Kalamata Kalamata Open, 2013 110 m Russian record
CNF 10 November 2013 Long Island, BHS Vertical Blue, 2013 91 m Russian record
FIM 16 November 2013 Long Island, BHS Vertical Blue, 2013 112 m Russian record
FIM 2 December 2014 Long Island, BHS Suunto Vertical Blue, Deadmans Caye, 2014 114 m Russian record
DYN 26 June 2015 Belgrade Individual AIDA Pool World Championships 2015 258 m Russian record
CNF 14 September 2015 Limassol AIDA Individual World Championship 2015 85 m Gold medal
CWT 16 September 2015 Limassol AIDA Individual World Championship 2ool Championship 2015 — CMAS 8 m 15 sec Russian record, gold medal
DYN-BF 15 June 2018 Lignano Sabbiadoro 10th Free Diving Indoor World Championship – CMAS 224,7 m Russian record
CWT 18 July 2018 Bahamas Vertical Blue 2018 — AIDA 130 m World record, gold medal
FIM 24 July 2018 Bahamas Vertical Blue 2018 — AIDA 125 m World record, gold medal
CWT 4 October 2018 Kaş, Turkey 3rd FreeDiving World Championship Outdoor 2018 — CMAS 123 m World record, gold medal
FIM 6 October 2018 Kaş, Turkey 3rd FreeDiving World Championship Outdoor 2018 — CMAS 116 m World record, gold medal
CWT-BF21 May 2019Egypt, DahabRussian Open Depth Championship 2019 — AIDA108 mWorld record, gold medal
CWT-BF5 August 2019Roatán, HondurasCaribbean Cup 2019 — AIDA110 mWorld record, gold medal
CNF7 August 2019Roatán, HondurasOutdoor World Championship 2019 — CMAS85 mWorld record, gold medal
CWT8 August 2019Roatán, HondurasOutdoor World Championship 2019 — CMAS125 mWorld record, gold medal
FIM11 August 2019Roatán, HondurasOutdoor World Championship 2019 — CMAS118 mWorld record, gold medal
CWTB12 September 2020Krk, CroatiaAdriatic Depth Trophy Competition 2020111 mWorld record, gold medal [2]
CWTB26 November 2020Egypt, Sharm-el-SheikhAida Freediving World Competition — AIDA113 mWorld record, gold medal
FIM13 July 2021BahamasVertical Blue 2021 – CMAS126 mWorld record, gold medal
CNF15 July 2021BahamasVertical Blue 2021 – CMAS87 mWorld record
CWT17 July 2021BahamasVertical Blue 2021 – CMAS131 mWorld record, gold medal
CNF19 July 2021BahamasVertical Blue 2021 – CMAS90 mWorld record, gold medal
CWTB22 July 2021BahamasVertical Blue 2021 – CMAS118 mWorld record, gold medal
CWTB23 September 2021Limassol, CyprusAIDA World Championship Limassol 2021115 mWorld record, gold medal
FIM24 September 2021Limassol, CyprusAIDA World Championship Limassol 2021118 mGold medal
CWT25 September 2021Limassol, CyprusAIDA World Championship Limassol 2021125 mGold medal
CWT5 October 2021Kaş, Turkey5th CMAS Outdoor Freediving World Championships 2021128 mGold medal
FIM6 October 2021Kaş, Turkey5th CMAS Outdoor Freediving World Championships 2021121 mGold medal
VWT25 March 2023BonaireBonAbyss2023 – AIDA153 mWorld record
VWT28 March 2023BonaireBonAbyss2023 – AIDA156 mWorld record
CWTB26 May 2023PhilippinesAIDA Oceanquest Philippines121 mWorld record
CWT30 June 2023Villefranche-sur-mer10th outdoor freediving French championship CMAS133 mWorld record
FIM21 July 2023BahamasVertical Blue 2023 – AIDA133 mWorld record
CWT22 July 2023BahamasVertical Blue 2023 – AIDA133 mWorld record
CWT21 August 2023Roatan, HondurasCMAS 7th Freediving Depth World Championship136 mWorld record
CNF24 August 2023Roatan, HondurasCMAS 7th Freediving Depth World Championship100 mWorld record
CWTB25 August 2023Roatan, HondurasCMAS 7th Freediving Depth World Championship124 mWorld record
CWTB24 September 2023Limassol, CyprusAIDA World Championship Limassol 2023123 mWorld record
CWT29 September 2023Limassol, CyprusAIDA World Championship Limassol 2023136 mWorld record
CWTB10 September 2024Corsica33rd AIDA Freediving World Championship125 mWorld record
DNF29 March 2025Chengdu, ChinaThe World Games 2025 Freediving200 mSilver Medal
DYN30 March 2025Chengdu, ChinaThe World Games 2025 Freediving300 mRussian record, Gold medal
CWTB10 September 2024Corsica33rd AIDA Freediving World Championship125 mWorld record
DNF29 March 2025Chengdu, ChinaThe World Games 2025 Freediving200 mSilver Medal
DYN30 March 2025Chengdu, ChinaThe World Games 2025 Freediving300 mRussian record, Gold medal

Summary:

Clarification:

1.) pulling up along the line or swimming with or without fins under AIDA rules 2.) swimming with fins under CMAS rules.

Personal bests

DisciplineResultAccreditation
TimeSTA8:33minAIDA
DistanceDNF195mAIDA
DYN258mAIDA
DepthCNF100mCMAS
CWT136mCMAS, AIDA
CWT BF124mCMAS
FIM133mCMAS, AIDA
CWT ICE85mFF
VWT156mAIDA


References

  1. ↑ AIDA: World records Archived 17 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine (checked 17 February 2013)
  2. ↑ "🇷🇺 New Freediving World Record Alexey Molchanov Constant Weight Bifins. Adriatic Freediving Trophy 2020 Croatia 🇭🇷". SPORTALSUB.NET. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2021.

[1]

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