Turkish diver breaks new freediving record in fresh water

By Fatih Erel

ISTANBUL (AA) - A Turkish free diver on Friday set a new freshwater world record in southwestern Turkey.

Sahika Ercumen dove 65 meters down in Burdur’s Lake Salada in 1 minute and 58 seconds, breaking the old record of 55 meters in fresh water.

"l thought l couldn’t hold my breath because the water was cold but l broke the record and l’m happy," she told reporters after her feat, meant to mark Turkey’s upcoming Republic Day.

"My goal was to draw attention to the protection of Lake Salda," she added.

Lake Salda, known as Turkey's Maldives, spans 4,70 hectares and is Turkey’s deepest lake, going down to 184 meters (604 feet).

Each year, Turkey marks Republic Day on Oct. 29, commemorating the proclamation of the Turkish Republic in 1923.

On Oct. 29, 1923, the Turkish Republic was declared.

After the declaration and a vote in the Grand National Assembly, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was unanimously elected the first president of the republic.