--- title: "Gold at 108 meters: how Kateryna Sadurska became the world champion in freediving" description: "Ukrainian athlete Kateryna Sadurska won gold at the 2026 World Freediving Championships in the CWT discipline with a result of 108 meters. Reigning champion Natalka Zharova had her result disqualified due to a blackout on the surface." date: 2026-08-19T13:14:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/gold-at-108-meters-sadurska-became-world-champion-in-freediving tags: [freediving, cmas, ukraine, world-championship, ecaterina-sadurskaya] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Gold at 108 meters: how Kateryna Sadurska became the world champion in freediving ![Ekaterina Sadurskaya in wetsuit with freediving board against ocean backdrop — world champion who conquered 108 meters](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/19/zolotoe-pogruzhenie-108-metrov-sadurskaya-stala-chempionkoy-mira-po-fraidayvingu/zolotoe-pogruzhenie-108-metrov-sadurskaya-stala-chempionkoy-mira-po-fraidayvingu-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Kateryna Sadurska won the gold medal at the 2026 World Freediving Championships in the CWT discipline with a result of 108 meters. - Natalka Zharova, the reigning champion, had her result disqualified due to a blackout on the surface after diving to 121 meters. - Alessia Zecchini took second place with a result of 114 meters and an 8-point penalty. - This is Sadurska's first gold medal in the CWT discipline, although she previously won gold in FIM and CNF. ### Kateryna Sadurska's historic victory On August 19, 2026, Ukrainian athlete Kateryna Sadurska wrote her name into the history of world freediving by winning a gold medal at the World Championships under the auspices of the World Underwater Federation (CMAS). In the opening discipline of the competition — Constant Weight with Fins (CWT) — the Ukrainian athlete declared a depth of 108 meters and successfully completed the dive, securing the winning result. For Sadurska, this is her first gold medal at the World Championships specifically in the CWT discipline, marking the culmination of a long journey to the top. ### Dramatic finale: the fight for the podium Two athletes initially declared a greater depth than the winner: Italian Alessia Zecchini and Ukrainian Natalka Zharova, both intending to dive to 121 meters. However, fate decided otherwise. Zecchini stopped at the 114-meter mark and, receiving an 8-point penalty, settled for the silver medal. Natalka Zharova, the reigning world champion, successfully reached the declared depth of 121 meters but experienced a blackout (fainting) upon surfacing. As a result, her dive was disqualified, which came as a shock to the sports community. ### Contradictory data There are discrepancies in the interpretation of events surrounding Natalka Zharova's result in official reports and comments from various sides. On one hand, the fact of a successful dive to 121 meters is confirmed by the judging commission, yet the disqualification of the result due to a blackout on the surface remains a subject of debate. Some experts believe that CMAS rules regarding safety during surfacing require revision, especially in the context of such extreme depths. On the other hand, the federation's official position remains unchanged: athlete safety is the priority, and a violation of the surfacing protocol automatically leads to the disqualification of the attempt. ### The path to gold: from 4th place to the top For Kateryna Sadurska, this victory was the result of consistent development and overcoming difficulties. In 2024, she took 4th place with a result of 103 meters, and in 2025 she showed 98 meters, stopping just a step away from the podium twice. Now, in 2026, she not only overcame the psychological barrier but also demonstrated the stability and mastery necessary to win gold. She already holds World Champion titles in Free Immersion (FIM) and Constant Weight No Fins (CNF), making her one of the most decorated athletes in Ukrainian freediving history. ### Comments and prospects Natalka Zharova, whose result was not counted, commented on her performance on social media: "It is a pity that I failed. This was my first attempt at 120 meters in a competition. I will consider this an isolated incident for now. If it happens again, I will draw conclusions." Her words reflect both disappointment and readiness for further self-improvement. Kateryna Sadurska, in turn, expressed gratitude to her team and fans, noting that this victory is the result of collective efforts and self-belief. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Golden dive at 108 meters: Sadurska became world champion in freediving](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/othersport/zolote-zanurennya-108-metriv-sadurska-stala-1787143542.html) - Основной источник с подробностями о результатах соревнований и комментариями спортсменов. - [Ukrainian conquered the world championship and won gold at the CMAS World Championships](https://korrespondent.net/sport/other/4904222-ukraynka-pokoryla-myrovoe-pervenstvo-y-zavoevala-zoloto-chm-CMAS) - Подтверждающий источник с кратким обзором событий и цитатами. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What result did Kateryna Sadurska achieve at the 2026 World Championships? **A:** Kateryna Sadurska dived to a depth of 108 meters in the CWT discipline and won the gold medal. ### Q: Why was Natalka Zharova's result disqualified? **A:** Natalka Zharova's result was disqualified due to a blackout (fainting) upon surfacing after diving to 121 meters. ### Q: Who took second place at the championship? **A:** Second place was taken by Italian Alessia Zecchini with a result of 114 meters and an 8-point penalty. ### Q: Did Kateryna Sadurska have previous victories at World Championships? **A:** Yes, she previously won gold in the FIM and CNF disciplines, but this is her first victory in CWT.