The desire to go deeper and deeper is a combination of my competitive side and my huge love for the sea. I can't be without it.
The Edit
Alessia Zecchini, a life without limits
Belong to the legend
In the world of freediving, Alessia Zecchini is known as ‘the Queen of the Abyss’. A world champion who has gone deeper underwater than virtually anyone else, smashing 38 world records along the way. Here, the Netflix star of The Deepest Breath reveals to us why the ocean is her happy place.
Italian freediver Alessia Zecchini is passionate about being at her best when she’s in the ocean. Seeing blue all around her and soaking up the silence is special, almost sacred. She thrives in the depths and seems born to push boundaries.
Fast track to success
It was on a family holiday in Greece, at the age of 11, that Alessia had her first taste of freediving. Two years later, she was determined to become a famous freediver. By age 18, she was competing in competitions, and just five years later she claimed victory as a world champion.
In 2017, Alessia poignantly broke her idol’s long-standing 101m constant weight record, set by Russian champion Natalia Molchanova. Today, Alessia exists in a class of one, with records and awards across every freedive category – from the pool to the sea, both with and without fins. As she continues breaking her own records with an apparent ease, one begins to wonder if she really can breathe underwater.
Deeper and deeper
Following a period of injury, Alessia has returned to her peak, and there’s a sense that her best is yet to come. In the Philippines in April 2024, she broke her own free immersion record by an impressive three metres, reaching 104m.
A battle of will
It’s a fact that the human body is not designed for deep water. As a diver descends, the growing pressure of the ocean strains every muscle and organ. At 20 metres below their lungs will have compressed to a third of their usual capacity. Staying alert and precisely managing every moment, as their heartbeat slows and sunlight disappears, is as much a battle of will as anything else.
Freediving taught me how to control my emotions, how to control my body and mind. The most beautiful thing is that our body can adapt everywhere.
Cultivating calm
The word Alessia returns to time and again is ‘free’. Whilst relishing the sense of freedom, she tries not to experience many emotions in the water. She believes in the power of meditation, emphasising the importance of blocking out all thoughts to achieve a deep state of calm, something that’s not only desirable when freediving but crucial to survival.
Dare to dream
Given her array of world records, Alessia’s humility is remarkable. She feels grateful even in defeat, believing that you learn so much more from your mistakes than from your successes. Win or lose, she comes back to her philosophy of finding a way to do what she loves, and committing to the belief that everything is possible.
If you have a dream, even if no one else believes in it, you have to keep going.
The name ‘Alessia Zecchini’ will be spoken by freedivers for generations to come. Even if her records tumble, her achievements in the ocean will never be forgotten. Her place in history is sealed, and her love of the ocean continues.
Alessia Zecchin’s inspiring story is part of our Belong to the Legend series. Look out for more unique stories coming soon.