Turkish free diver breaks world record


Derya Can, Turkey's record-holding female free diver, broke another world record by performing a 111-meter dive in the variable weight with fins category in Kaş, Antalya on Saturday. With Saturday's dive, she surpassed another Turkish female free diver Şahika Ercümen's record of 110 meters. Derya dedicated her record-breaking dive to those who were killed in a terror attack in Kayseri on the same day. She said, "Every meter that I dived, I thought about our martyrs and that gave me strength."The dive took two minutes 38 seconds, and Derya celebrated her success with a Turkish flag and by holding up placards with the deceased's names written on it.She said, "Yesterday (Friday) I set a new record by diving 94 meters in the variable weight without fins category and now, I have broken the record in the variable weight with fins category by diving 111 meters. I am dedicating my records to the martyrs. My records are gifts from me to my country. Our country deserves to be mentioned with successes not with terror attacks. I will continue my pursuit for success and I have plans to for even more records. I wish 2017 will bring peace."Earlier, I could not attempt these record breaking dives due to some health problems. I have waited almost four years for this and I have set two new records, despite the hard conditions. I would have preferred to do this in summer. But, my friends supported me. I tried to warm myself with hot water bags at the surface."