For nearly a month, Radu Salamalichi has held the title of Moldova’s national freediving champion after competing in the international championship in Costa Rica. Although he participated through Mexico, he insisted on registering with his Moldovan passport.
“The registration process was difficult because Moldova does not have an official freediving confederation. I pushed hard to compete under the Moldovan flag,” he admitted in an interview with the national television broadcaster.
Freediving is considered the most dangerous sport in the world. At international competitions, several specialists, including doctors, accompany the divers between 0 and 20 meters, as this is where most injuries occur.
Beyond sports, Radu Salamalichi is also a well-known entrepreneur and founder of the dried fruit and nut brand “Selik.” He discovered freediving a year ago, starting his training in pools in Chisinau. Later, he met a foreign champion who saw great potential in him.
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“A Moldovan with no ocean access can easily dive 10 meters. Radu, you have to compete!” he was told.
For Salamalichi, freediving has replaced therapy. It helped him overcome past muscle spasms and became a mental discipline.
“Lung capacity is only about 5% —everything depends on the brain. I enter a hypnotic state. It’s just me and the rope. When I open my eyes, there’s complete darkness. I don’t know how else to describe it—it’s just you with yourself.”
At the championship, he initially reached 27 meters, although he had trained for over 30. Time is not the main factor in freediving, but such a depth is typically reached in about one minute. When diving for pleasure, he can hold his breath for up to three minutes, depending on the number of movements he makes.
Currently, Radu Salamalichi is resting in Colombia but will return home soon.