Molchanovs Athlete Interview: Elias Amr Mamdouh from Egypt
By Kristina Zvaritch
At just 15 years old, Egypt’s Elias Amr Mamdouh is already on his way to a promising competitive freediving career.
In his younger years, Elias experimented with swimming distances in the pool on a single breath. This favorite pastime led him to discover freediving a few years later, at age 14. During his first freediving course in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with Osama Jouhari, Elias found that while Frenzel equalization came naturally to him, breath-holding was especially challenging. However, he didn’t let that stop him, continuing to spend more and more time in the water practicing breath-holds until they became effortless.
Then, just three months before the CMAS World Freediving Indoor Championship in Belgrade, Elias began transferring his skills to the pool. His training earned him two impressive white cards - an 82m (269ft) DNF dive and 4th place in the discipline, along with 125m (410ft) DYNB and 5th place in the discipline. While he completed 141.5m (464ft) in DYN, an unfortunate accidental slip (unrelated to hypoxia) during the surface protocol resulted in a red card.
We sat down with Elias to find out what he thinks the benefits are of starting freediving at a younger age, his mental preparation, the most challenging aspects of freediving, and specific milestones he’s set for himself on his competitive freediving journey.
KZ: Hi Elias, it’s great to meet you! To start with, I think we all want to know that, given your age, what do you think are the benefits of starting freediving young?
EAM: In my opinion, starting freediving young can give a huge advantage, especially in depth adaptation and building tolerance to hypoxia. Of course, the latter is harder to build as the anaerobic enzymes, which help the body resist hypoxia, are not completely formed yet.
KZ: We can definitely see the advantages looking at your performances! Now please describe to me the mental preparation required for your deep dives.
EAM: My mental preparation for deep dives is usually pretty simple and straightforward. I put a lot of trust into my training and past dives, which relieves a lot of the nerves before the dive. I try not to overthink before the dive because thinking right before will only negatively affect my performance.
KZ: That makes sense! And what's the most challenging aspect of training for freediving, both physically and mentally?
EAM: The most challenging aspect of training (mentally) is doing long dives in the pool (150m+ / 492ft+) as I don’t have as much experience in the pool, and the dives are a lot more challenging compared to depth. I don’t have many issues physically as I developed a good base as a swimmer and through conditioning.
KZ: We’re looking forward to seeing you develop as you gain more experience! Plus, you’re working with a coach at the moment. Tell us more about what key points you focus on to consider safety given your age.
EAM: My coach for this training period has been Samo Jeranko. Of course, diving with a buddy/buddies is essential at all times in pool and depth. We mainly take depth adaptation very seriously as to not rush deeper dives and risk lung injury.
KZ: Excellent points. As a competitive freediver, do you have any goals or milestones you are aiming to achieve?
EAM: As I’m relatively new to pool freediving, this competition was a bit of a rough start, especially with nerves on the first day. My main goal is to be the world’s first Junior to break the 200m (656ft) mark in DYN. And to achieve gold medals in DYN and DNF at the next world championships.
KZ: Well, we’re definitely rooting for you! On a non-competitive note: what's the most unexpected or amusing thing you've discovered while exploring underwater during a freedive?
EAM: The most amusing thing I saw underwater was a manta ray on my first-ever freedive!
KZ: What good luck! And lastly, what are some MUST-HAVE Molchanovs pieces in your gear bag?
EAM: My Molchanovs must-haves are, of course, my CORE Silicone Bifins, as they’re extremely versatile. Also my SPORT 1.5mm Wetsuit, CORE Mask, and CORE Snorkel.
Follow Elias on social media to join him on his competitive freediving journey!
Instagram: @eliasmamdouh_
At just 15 years old, Egypt’s Elias Amr Mamdouh is already on his way to a promising competitive freediving career.
In his younger years, Elias experimented with swimming distances in the pool on a single breath. This favorite pastime led him to discover freediving a few years later, at age 14. During his first freediving course in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with Osama Jouhari, Elias found that while Frenzel equalization came naturally to him, breath-holding was especially challenging. However, he didn’t let that stop him, continuing to spend more and more time in the water practicing breath-holds until they became effortless.
Then, just three months before the CMAS World Freediving Indoor Championship in Belgrade, Elias began transferring his skills to the pool. His training earned him two impressive white cards - an 82m (269ft) DNF dive and 4th place in the discipline, along with 125m (410ft) DYNB and 5th place in the discipline. While he completed 141.5m (464ft) in DYN, an unfortunate accidental slip (unrelated to hypoxia) during the surface protocol resulted in a red card.
We sat down with Elias to find out what he thinks the benefits are of starting freediving at a younger age, his mental preparation, the most challenging aspects of freediving, and specific milestones he’s set for himself on his competitive freediving journey.
KZ: Hi Elias, it’s great to meet you! To start with, I think we all want to know that, given your age, what do you think are the benefits of starting freediving young?
EAM: In my opinion, starting freediving young can give a huge advantage, especially in depth adaptation and building tolerance to hypoxia. Of course, the latter is harder to build as the anaerobic enzymes, which help the body resist hypoxia, are not completely formed yet.
KZ: We can definitely see the advantages looking at your performances! Now please describe to me the mental preparation required for your deep dives.
EAM: My mental preparation for deep dives is usually pretty simple and straightforward. I put a lot of trust into my training and past dives, which relieves a lot of the nerves before the dive. I try not to overthink before the dive because thinking right before will only negatively affect my performance.
KZ: That makes sense! And what's the most challenging aspect of training for freediving, both physically and mentally?
EAM: The most challenging aspect of training (mentally) is doing long dives in the pool (150m+ / 492ft+) as I don’t have as much experience in the pool, and the dives are a lot more challenging compared to depth. I don’t have many issues physically as I developed a good base as a swimmer and through conditioning.
KZ: We’re looking forward to seeing you develop as you gain more experience! Plus, you’re working with a coach at the moment. Tell us more about what key points you focus on to consider safety given your age.
EAM: My coach for this training period has been Samo Jeranko. Of course, diving with a buddy/buddies is essential at all times in pool and depth. We mainly take depth adaptation very seriously as to not rush deeper dives and risk lung injury.
KZ: Excellent points. As a competitive freediver, do you have any goals or milestones you are aiming to achieve?
EAM: As I’m relatively new to pool freediving, this competition was a bit of a rough start, especially with nerves on the first day. My main goal is to be the world’s first Junior to break the 200m (656ft) mark in DYN. And to achieve gold medals in DYN and DNF at the next world championships.
KZ: Well, we’re definitely rooting for you! On a non-competitive note: what's the most unexpected or amusing thing you've discovered while exploring underwater during a freedive?
EAM: The most amusing thing I saw underwater was a manta ray on my first-ever freedive!
KZ: What good luck! And lastly, what are some MUST-HAVE Molchanovs pieces in your gear bag?
EAM: My Molchanovs must-haves are, of course, my CORE Silicone Bifins, as they’re extremely versatile. Also my SPORT 1.5mm Wetsuit, CORE Mask, and CORE Snorkel.
Follow Elias on social media to join him on his competitive freediving journey!
Instagram: @eliasmamdouh_