Umberto Pelizzari
Encyclopedia
Umberto Pelizzari is an Italian
freediver
, widely considered among the best of all times. Of his era, he is the sole to have established world records in all the then existing disciplines of freediving.
. He debuted as a child in professional swimming, moving to freediving at age 19.
with -65 m (-213 feet), while in the following year establishing his first record in the Variable Weight discipline with -95 m (-311 feet). On October 26 of the same year he pushed himself to -118 m (387 feet) to set a new world record in the No Limits discipline.
All through the 1990s Pelizzari became famous for his sportive rivalry with the time's other world top freediver, Cuba
n Francisco "Pipin" Ferreras
, originally a close training friend around 1990. Particularly in No-Limits, Pelizzari and Ferreras pushed each other deeper and deeper, and subsequently Pelizzari enhanced his measures to establish round markers in Constant Weight
with -80 m (262 feet), and in No Limits
with 150 m (492 feet), both these at the same event in October 1999.
The rivalry of Pelizzari and Ferreras became the focus of the 2001 IMAX
production Ocean Men: Extreme Dive, directed by renowned under water photographer Bob Talbot
.
Pelizzari was one of a handful of instigators behind the respected freediving organization AIDA
which formed in 1994. Twice, in 1996 and 2001, Pelizzari became AIDA World Champion with the Italian national team. In 2001, Pelizzari concluded his athletic career with a Variable Weight record of -131 m (429 feet) and retired thereafter.
and a TV host. He has also formed the freediving training agency Apnea Academy which sees much respect in freediving circuits, and co-authored the widely used Manual of Freediving with his former trainer Stefano Tovaglieri.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
freediver
Free-diving
Freediving is any of various aquatic activities that share the practice of breath-hold underwater diving. Examples include breathhold spear fishing, freedive photography, apnea competitions and, to a degree, snorkeling...
, widely considered among the best of all times. Of his era, he is the sole to have established world records in all the then existing disciplines of freediving.
Early life
Pelizzari was born in the Lombardian city Busto ArsizioBusto Arsizio
Busto Arsizio is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy, in northern Italy, 25 km north of Milan in the province of Varese.The economy of Busto Arsizio is mainly based on industry and commerce.-History:...
. He debuted as a child in professional swimming, moving to freediving at age 19.
Sportive achievements
At 1.89 metres (6.2 ft) and 84 kilograms (185.2 lb), In 1990 Pelizzari obtained the world record in the respected discipline Constant WeightConstant Weight
Constant Weight is an AIDA freediving discipline in which the freediver descends and ascends using his fins/monofin and/or with the use of his arms without pulling on the rope or changing his ballast; only a single hold of the rope to stop the descent and start the ascent is allowed...
with -65 m (-213 feet), while in the following year establishing his first record in the Variable Weight discipline with -95 m (-311 feet). On October 26 of the same year he pushed himself to -118 m (387 feet) to set a new world record in the No Limits discipline.
All through the 1990s Pelizzari became famous for his sportive rivalry with the time's other world top freediver, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n Francisco "Pipin" Ferreras
Francisco Ferreras (free-diver)
Francisco Rodriguez, better known as Francisco 'Pipin' Ferreras is a Cuban free-diver renowned for his achievements in deep freediving.- Life :...
, originally a close training friend around 1990. Particularly in No-Limits, Pelizzari and Ferreras pushed each other deeper and deeper, and subsequently Pelizzari enhanced his measures to establish round markers in Constant Weight
Constant Weight
Constant Weight is an AIDA freediving discipline in which the freediver descends and ascends using his fins/monofin and/or with the use of his arms without pulling on the rope or changing his ballast; only a single hold of the rope to stop the descent and start the ascent is allowed...
with -80 m (262 feet), and in No Limits
No-Limits Apnea
No-Limits Apnea is a AIDA International freediving discipline in which the freediver descends and ascends with the method of his or her choice. Often, a heavy metal bar or "sled" grasped by the diver descends fixed to a line, reaching great depths. The most common ascension assistance is via...
with 150 m (492 feet), both these at the same event in October 1999.
The rivalry of Pelizzari and Ferreras became the focus of the 2001 IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
production Ocean Men: Extreme Dive, directed by renowned under water photographer Bob Talbot
Bob Talbot
Robert Dale Talbot is a retired American professional baseball player, an outfielder in the Major Leagues from to for the Chicago Cubs. Talbot joined the Cubs from their Pacific Coast League team, the Los Angeles Angels....
.
Pelizzari was one of a handful of instigators behind the respected freediving organization AIDA
AIDA International
The International Association for Development of Apnea is the world wide rule- and record-keeping body for competitive breath holding events . It aims to set standards for safety, comparability of Official World Record attempts and freedive education...
which formed in 1994. Twice, in 1996 and 2001, Pelizzari became AIDA World Champion with the Italian national team. In 2001, Pelizzari concluded his athletic career with a Variable Weight record of -131 m (429 feet) and retired thereafter.
Post-athletic life
Pelizzari is currently professor at the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna di PisaSant'Anna School of Advanced Studies
The Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies of Pisa is a special-statute public university located in Pisa, Italy, operating in the field of applied sciences....
and a TV host. He has also formed the freediving training agency Apnea Academy which sees much respect in freediving circuits, and co-authored the widely used Manual of Freediving with his former trainer Stefano Tovaglieri.