IWC World Static Apnea Contest, Monaco 21-23.07

[BennyB]

Congratulations Tom, that's a wonderful achievement! It's always a great feeling to achieve a big goal and I think that's as big as they come.

As for the rest of the above discussion, as far as I am concerned in a hundred years' time you'll be remembered for all the right reasons.

Best regards,
Ben

[kingohyes]

Wow, congratulations on the amazing performance

[Panos Lianos]

Hi Tom,

Congratulations on your 10+!!

I think it's very sad that they won't allow you to compete in this event. If I was invited and they did something so unfair, I would refuse to go myself! Maybe an idea for the rest of the athletes that are going..... Suppose it was one of you that was treated like this! Athletes should stand up for each other when one's innocence is not disputed.

But maybe the organizer doesn't want Tom to be there, because if he goes, he would most likely win....

Sad...

The above is my personal opinion.

Panos Lianos
Athens, Greece

[fpernett]

Big congratulations TOM.
I´m very sorry about all this, that competition would´t be the same without your participation.
Hope that Pierre understands that all was a big mistake, that AIDA accept.
Congratulation again

[pat fish]

Originally Posted by pat fish

mail to pierre

Dear Pierre Frolla

It is widely discussed in the freediving community, that Tom Sietas is not allowed to take part in the IWC World Static Apnea Contest, Monaco 21-23.07.05. We are very disappointed with the decision to exclude Tom from the contest and would like to adress you to review your decision on that topic. His latest results under AIDA rules and the negative doping tests have proven his integrity. The credibility of sponsors and the hole event depends on your decision: just think over all the negative press reports about the IWC World Static Apnea Contest not allowing the man who does 10min+ statics because of rumors about positive drug tests who have obviously been negative.

Yours
Pat

... maybe all members of the freediving community who are dissatisfied with the exclusion of tom from the contest write an email to pierre@pierrefrolla.com

Yours
Pat

[Kars]

Tom wonderful news on your site!

I'm very happy for you, and your journey may look shadowly sometimes, but in the end your trouble will open the mind of many allowing for a better world.

I bet you'll be flooded with email, maybe write a small piece about your personal journey?

Trust your intuition

Danke, vielen dank für ihren beitrag am dem welt!
Love, peace and water!

Kars

[jome]

Wow...That is, I mean, why do we even train, the rest of the world. Congratulations, that is truly impressive.

I think it's sad if speculation is allowed to affect someones participation in a competition. There is always speculation. It may or may not be founded, but until proven otherwise by the existing rules and protocols, it is just speculation. Almost every top level athlete in any sport, especially the ones who seem to be completely unchallenged, have and always will be speculated about.

Then again, since freediving is such a small sport, I can imagine that for example sponsors in this particular event can have a huge leverage. And of course, it's an invitation only competition, so the organizer is absolutely free to invite anyone they wish. But still, it's kind of like when AIDA CNF "world records" were being made at 35 meters or something, when the real record was over 60m...

I hate to say this though, but it does make the competition a lot more exciting. There's about half a dozen very even guys now competing for the top spot.

[pat fish]

Originally Posted by jome

I hate to say this though, but it does make the competition a lot more exciting. There's about half a dozen very even guys now competing for the top spot.

...there is about half a dozen very even guys now competing for number 2 you wanted to say. as eric already said in fun: there will be 2 categories - static and non-tom-static.

the contest is not only about who's down the longest but who's down longer than his opponent - so it's a mind game. not only a game of the ultimate longest static.

yours pat

[DeepThought]

Congratulations Tom!!

Were there any more allegations except that one doping test that was cleared for the world record? if not then I guess it's just pettiness that prevents you from participating.
I'de expect AIDA to protect the validity of it's world record in such a case as people claim stuff without a proof as AIDA accepted the recrod. What if some one had made such claims about Martin and his 8:06....

[watts]

WOW Congratulations mate. You said in the Vancouver worlds video you thought it was possible and now youve done it. You keep on raising the bar for us newbies in the sport. Encouraging us to get out there and train harder.

Congrats Nathan Watts

[uw_swim]

jome, that's just what i was thinking reading that- that they decided they wanted more of a "competition" without a clear favorite, so they decided to drum this up. Usually things like that do seem to have more of a reason than what is actually stated.

[roger]

Because of illness Tom could not make it to the 3rd DordtDive last May.

As member of the organisation of DordtDive I would have been very proud if Tom did a 10+ at "my" competition!!!

I think that Tom should be part of the IWC World Static Apnea Contest (if he still wants...)

And the beautiful thing about sport in general is that there is a constant growing in performance. For Static Apnea Tom Sietas is now the best, but there will be a new Tom Sietas (m/f) someday and this person will do a 12+. It wont stop me from enjoying freediving, training and participating in competitions.

[Vlado]

It is unprofessional how the organizers of the contest behave. They are banning an athlete without any firm evidence, but clearly beacuse he stands out of the rest of the athlets so much. Should it make you automatically suspicius? In my book no.

That reminds of the case of Sergei Bubka (pole vault) who clearly had achieved supremacy over every other athlete in the discipline. But he set his records 1cm by 1cm, although it was obvious what was he capable of achieving. Maybe you should have taken it slowly Tom?

Second thing. Even if Tom had used something in the past (hypothetically speaking) wouldn't the event's organizers now have all neccessary doping tests? And Tom is still eager to attend, so what does it tells us? If he still wins with great result that would make a big favor both to organizers and Tom.

So big support for you Tom, and big congrats on your latest result!
Vladimir Prelovac

[cebaztian]

I have written a text about what I found out about Aida and doping.

http://www.fridykning.se/freediving/.../aidadope.html

Sebastian Sweden

[kingohyes]

Well written!