Help Me Represent Team USA at the AIDA Freediving World Championships in Limassol, Cyprus!

Hello family and friends,

I am super excited to announce that I have been selected as part of Team USA for the 2026 Freediving World Championships in Limassol, Cyprus. I also have to announce that I will need sponsorships and donations to achieve this. As a full time instructor (AIDA Master Instructor) based between Colombia and Egypt, I do it for the love of the game not the cash flow. Currently I am in San Andres, Colombia trying to stir up some students and setting the foundation for the future. At the moment there is still very little money in professional competitive freediving, only a select few are able to make a living while competing. In coming years I hope to have more income from schools I work with as well as sponsorships from diving brands and the few other perks that come with diving at the highest level. Nike or Marlboro give me a call.

Competing in the world championship as part of team USA is the culmination of all my hard work training and teaching over the last few years. Almost three years ago I was ensconced in my hostel bunkbed in Vietnam reading ‘One Breath’ about the American freediver Nick Mevoli. From then on it was my goal to compete and teach and see how far I could take myself. First 70 meters (230 ft) was the goal, now that I have gone beyond that 100m is the next goal. I also currently have the #4 all time US static breath hold - 7 minutes and 40 seconds. Who knows what the future holds… Training full time as an amateur athlete is very expensive and takes valuable time away from teaching students. All funds received will directly support my journey to the world championships.

It still feels absolutely surreal, a dream come true, and this could be the first step into making a name for myself and climbing the ladder so to speak. Special thanks to my family and friends for supporting me throughout this journey, and especially midwife kc, the best midwives in the world!

Here is a rough estimation of my costs for the trip:

Flight San Andres to sharm el sheik - $1200 ~ (cheap training grounds in dahab and my home base for training and teaching)

Flight sharm el sheik to Cyprus - $400 ~

Flight back to Egypt - $400 ~

Pre comp training x 25 days ~ $500 (cheap in the blue hole)

Hotel/hostel in cyprus X 17 days ~$1800

Event registration - €400 = 462 usd

Two weeks food in cyprus = $400+

Equipment - new wetsuit and monofin - $500 ~ (my wetsuit is 70% glue at this point) I thought that we get custom team usa wetsuits but alas tis not so. Unfortunately even as part of Team USA we still have to pay for virtually everything. Discounts though!

Total - $5562+

(flight prices subject to change but they will be the first purchases after event registration)

All other costs I will cover with teaching.

Hope to make this happen and show the world we have some of the best freedivers!

Thank you again to all,

Jeb Gilman