The history of freediving as competition sport in The Netherlands, Part 12000 Coupe du Monde par équipes (St Jean Cap Ferrat) The French competition of 2000 is the first time we find the Dutch. Although no trace can be found of the Dutch competiting in this competition, we find clear evidence in the famous documentary "Ocean Men". In a flash, we see the Dutchmen Bill Meegens and Jorg Jansen walking trough the parade in Nice. The French competition was nothing more than the premise toward the world championships in Ibiza. It would also be the year that The Netherlands would learn about the sport Freediving. 2001 Freediving Team Nederland The year 2001 is the year that freediving really took off. I discovered that year the sport myself when the southern members of the team where looking for a swimmingpool. It was this year that I had a summerjob at the local swimmingpool and aided to have the swimmingpool available for the team. There, I met Bill Meegens, Pim Vemeulen and Inge van Limpt. Two complete men and woman teams where send towards Ibiza. They consisted of Bill Meegens (ST 5:09, CW 36 m), Pim Vermeulen (ST 5:07, CW 35 m), Notis Stefanis (ST 3:33, CW 40 m), Nienke Regenhard (ST 4:24, CW 30 m), Inge van Limpt (ST: 4:18) and Aafke Verkade (ST: 3:58, CW 25 m). Jorg Jansen joined them as the team's coach. The Dutch team returned with a 14th place for the woman's team. The men's ended at the 19th place. Although the Dutch also competed in later world championschips, Vancouver 2004, Renens/Nice 2005, was this the only world championschip that the Netherlands competed with complete teams. This was also the first and only competition that the Dutch team had success on the level of sponsorship; They where aided by Orca, Suunto en two Dutch loan firms. The success of Ibiza was inspiring and did result that trough the site of Freediver.nl the Dutch branch of AIDA was founded with Fred Steegstra, Jorg Jansen and Pim Vermeulen as the first board. To be continued |