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Freediving World Champion at 80:
The lessons we learn from freediving don’t always come from the darkest of depths or the longest of breaths. Sometimes, they come from a place even deeper.
Imagine becoming a SCUBA diver, then 12 years later, you learn to freedive. You meet a coach, you train hard, and then try your hand at competing. Imagine the mental and physical effort it would take to walk into one of your first competitions and then walk out with three gold medals and a World Champion title. Now, imagine doing that at 80 years old.
For many of us, the retirement years are meant for slowing down, taking it easy, and reminiscing. For German freediver Hannelore Becker, however, it was just the beginning. At age 59, she was on vacation in Egypt when she met some divers who took her into the water with them. She is curious by nature and was fascinated immediately. So, she and a friend signed up for a course to become certified SCUBA divers. For many of us, this would be enough adventure to last a lifetime. Still curious, Becker began freediving at age 71. Her family and friends encouraged her through all of it by calling her a role model, spurring her on to more aquatic adventures. That’s when she met Werner Giove.
Giove is a freediver trained by Umberto Pelizzari and the national coach for Germany. He must have recognized her curiosity and unwavering attitude because he not only took her on as one of his athletes, but he became her confidant as well. One day she asked him what he thought about her entering a competition. He smiled and said, “Go for it.” So she did.
Becker also trains with freediving coach Alena Caspary, drawing encouragement from both coaches to perservere through her demanding sessions. Finding the right coach, or coaches, is paramount for her. “You have to trust your trainer one hundred percent,” Becker said, “as you are entrusting your life to this person and are at their mercy.”
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The CMAS Freediving Indoor World Championships were about to get underway in Belgrade, Serbia, when Becker walked onto the deck. By the end of the competition, she had accomplished 80m (262 ft) of DYN, 99.5 m in DYNB, and 3’05” in STA. Her performance was enough to earn her three gold medals and the title of World Champion. This should come as no surprise because, in her very first competition, her goal was to complete a 50m DYN dive. She did 97.5. This early success and others like it, along with her coaches, gave her the confidence to believe in herself and to keep going.
Becker is able to accomplish all her success at the age of 80 the same way anyone could at any age: discipline. She commits to training 5 days a week with a mix of fitness training, DYNB (bifins), Static training, and swimming endurance. On her non-training days, she listens to her body, relaxes, goes to the sauna, takes a walk, does yoga, or meditates. She eats well by consuming a lot of fruit and vegetables, some of which she grows herself. She also takes her mental preparation very seriously. When she prepares to train or compete, she seeks peace and quiet so she can do some breathing exercises, concentrate, and visualize her dive.
Becker grew up in Germany. Athletics always interested her. She spent time horseback riding, playing tennis, Judo, skiing, and more. She worked as a seamstress, then at a bank, and even as an au pair in England for a year. She traveled as much as she could and always kept busy. It’s the future, however, that holds her attention now. “As long as my fins keep pulling me forward,” Becker said, “I want to experience many more adventures with and in freediving.” Besides diving and competing, she also has become a judge and plans to participate on the other side as well. Ever curious, she also looks forward to other activities, “Right now, I am thinking about trying boxing.”
Being a role model and a matriarch of diving comes with a responsibility, and she knows it. When asked how she does all that she does, Becker said, “Age is not a limit. If you are healthy and believe in yourself, you can do almost anything.” She extends her advice to anyone of any age who will listen. Her best advice? “Never say no. Just try and stay curious. Getting old is not for cowards.”
Hanne Becker is truly an inspiration to all of us. Our Molchanovs Community is rich in extraordinary people. Find more interviews and stories about powerful women and professional athletes on our website. Read about the freediving legend Natalia Molchanova here.
Freediving World Champion at 80:
Age is not a limit
The lessons we learn from freediving don’t always come from the darkest of depths or the longest of breaths. Sometimes, they come from a place even deeper.By: Jeremy Storton
Contributor: Kristina Zvaritch
81 years-old Hannelore Becker is a 3-time Freediving World Champion. Photo© Sarah Görs
Imagine becoming a SCUBA diver, then 12 years later, you learn to freedive. You meet a coach, you train hard, and then try your hand at competing. Imagine the mental and physical effort it would take to walk into one of your first competitions and then walk out with three gold medals and a World Champion title. Now, imagine doing that at 80 years old.
For many of us, the retirement years are meant for slowing down, taking it easy, and reminiscing. For German freediver Hannelore Becker, however, it was just the beginning. At age 59, she was on vacation in Egypt when she met some divers who took her into the water with them. She is curious by nature and was fascinated immediately. So, she and a friend signed up for a course to become certified SCUBA divers. For many of us, this would be enough adventure to last a lifetime. Still curious, Becker began freediving at age 71. Her family and friends encouraged her through all of it by calling her a role model, spurring her on to more aquatic adventures. That’s when she met Werner Giove.
Giove is a freediver trained by Umberto Pelizzari and the national coach for Germany. He must have recognized her curiosity and unwavering attitude because he not only took her on as one of his athletes, but he became her confidant as well. One day she asked him what he thought about her entering a competition. He smiled and said, “Go for it.” So she did.
Becker also trains with freediving coach Alena Caspary, drawing encouragement from both coaches to perservere through her demanding sessions. Finding the right coach, or coaches, is paramount for her. “You have to trust your trainer one hundred percent,” Becker said, “as you are entrusting your life to this person and are at their mercy.”
If you are healthy and believe in yourself, you can do almost anything.
The CMAS Freediving Indoor World Championships were about to get underway in Belgrade, Serbia, when Becker walked onto the deck. By the end of the competition, she had accomplished 80m (262 ft) of DYN, 99.5 m in DYNB, and 3’05” in STA. Her performance was enough to earn her three gold medals and the title of World Champion. This should come as no surprise because, in her very first competition, her goal was to complete a 50m DYN dive. She did 97.5. This early success and others like it, along with her coaches, gave her the confidence to believe in herself and to keep going.
Becker is able to accomplish all her success at the age of 80 the same way anyone could at any age: discipline. She commits to training 5 days a week with a mix of fitness training, DYNB (bifins), Static training, and swimming endurance. On her non-training days, she listens to her body, relaxes, goes to the sauna, takes a walk, does yoga, or meditates. She eats well by consuming a lot of fruit and vegetables, some of which she grows herself. She also takes her mental preparation very seriously. When she prepares to train or compete, she seeks peace and quiet so she can do some breathing exercises, concentrate, and visualize her dive.
Becker grew up in Germany. Athletics always interested her. She spent time horseback riding, playing tennis, Judo, skiing, and more. She worked as a seamstress, then at a bank, and even as an au pair in England for a year. She traveled as much as she could and always kept busy. It’s the future, however, that holds her attention now. “As long as my fins keep pulling me forward,” Becker said, “I want to experience many more adventures with and in freediving.” Besides diving and competing, she also has become a judge and plans to participate on the other side as well. Ever curious, she also looks forward to other activities, “Right now, I am thinking about trying boxing.”
German Freediver Hanne Becker is looking forward to many more adventures underwater. Photo © Sarah Görs
Being a role model and a matriarch of diving comes with a responsibility, and she knows it. When asked how she does all that she does, Becker said, “Age is not a limit. If you are healthy and believe in yourself, you can do almost anything.” She extends her advice to anyone of any age who will listen. Her best advice? “Never say no. Just try and stay curious. Getting old is not for cowards.”
Hanne Becker is truly an inspiration to all of us. Our Molchanovs Community is rich in extraordinary people. Find more interviews and stories about powerful women and professional athletes on our website. Read about the freediving legend Natalia Molchanova here.