Hawke's Bay's freediving world record holder William Trubridge is on the New Year Honours list for his services to the extreme sport. Photo / Supplied
Hawke's Bay's freediving world record holder William Trubridge is on the New Year Honours list for his services to the extreme sport. Photo / Supplied
If good things really do come in threes, keep an eye out for a Trubridge on next year's New Year Honours list.
World champion free diver William Trubridge has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to the extreme sport.
He said itwas an incredible feeling to make it on to the order that his father David Trubridge already sits on.
"My father got an ONZM last year which was amazing - I never expected to be following in his footsteps so quickly."
Trubridge began freediving in 2003 and started breaking records and dominating the sport in 2005 – becoming the first free diver to dive at Dean's Blue Hole in the Bahamas.
He broke his first world record in 2007, diving to 81 metres with constant weight and no fins.
In 2010, he was the first human to descend to 100m without assistance and furthered this record to 102m in 2016 - he also set the world record in Free Immersion in 2016 with 124m.
He also completed an "underwater crossing" of the Cook Strait as a series of 934 breath holds in 2019.
The 40-year-old is living in Japan with his young family, but said he would jump at the chance of living in Hawke's Bay if there was a way to train.
William Trubridge with his partner Sachiko Fukumoto and daughter Mila in March 2019. Photo / Paul Taylor
"Obviously there are pools but we need to have depth and there needs to be calm, warmish waters. It's not possible to do the appropriate training in New Zealand - which is why I'm based between the Bahamas and Japan."
Trubridge looks back fondly on his time growing up in Hawke's Bay and says it shaped him hugely as a person.
"I love being in the Bay, it's such a healthy lifestyle with great food and a great climate."
But, he added that his passion for the water came from earlier times when he was living on a boat, sailing with his family from Europe to New Zealand, before they settled in Hawke's Bay.
Along with holding seven world championships and 18 world records Trubridge also founded Vertical Blue - a freediving competition and school in the Bahamas.
He instigated Project Hector in 2010 – raising awareness for critically endangered Hector's and Maui dolphins and is an ambassador for the Ocean Recovery Alliance.
The world-leading freediver added that it's an honour and feels privileged to do the work he does, "and to receive this acclaim for it is a huge bonus".
