Beginning of September, at Villefranche sur Mer, France, despite difficult weather conditions, rough seas and falling temperatures, Morgan Bourc’his, a long-time friend of TUDOR, became World Champion in the Constant weight No Fins category… again.
Early morning, on Monday, September 9, Frenchman Morgan Bourc’his, began his Constant Weight No Fins (CNF) World Championship free dive into a very rough sea, eventually reaching a depth of -91 metres. After the long descent in cold water, Bourc’his made his way back to the surface but the strenuous ascent affected his mental alertness, especially during the last 30 metres. Once back to the surface, it was only thanks to his long experience that he was able to execute his surface protocol properly. Failure to complete it, in strict accordance with the International Association for the Development of Apnea (AIDA) rule, would have resulted in disqualification.
He later confessed that he did not have recollection of this final, crucial step, demonstrating that even the world’s best free diver did not come out unscathed from this daring competition.
In this case, his experience and commitment really paid off, eventually winning him the title of World Champion in his favourite category, also considered the purest expression of the sport, the CNF, where the athletes dive without fins and without assistance.
New French and personal records
After two intense months of preparation in Marseille, Bourc’his achieved an extraordinary performance, reaching a depth of -91 metres in 3 minutes and 34 seconds. As well as becoming World Champion, the 41-year-old freediver set a new personal record and a new French record.
TUDOR and Morgan Bourc’his
The Swiss watch brand and Bourc’his first crossed paths in 2014. The brand, which specialises in divers’ watches since the mid-1950s, was then producing a promotional film featuring a man walking under water for its celebrated Pelagos line. This role was played by Morgan Bourc’his, who at the time already was freediving World Champion and has remained a friend of the brand ever since.
the past 5 years TUDOR and Morgan Bourc’his collaborated on a variety of underwater-related projects, including ice-diving, underwater photo and video shoots as well as taking David Beckham, an ambassador of the brand, freediving in the open-sea.
About Morgan Bourc’his
Morgan Bourc’his was born in 1978 in Touraine, central France. From a very early age he excelled at swimming and by the age of 22 he began to yearn for the open sea and made the decision to move to Marseille and dedicate his time to free diving. As part of the French national team, he became CNF World Champion in 2008 and 2013, when he dove to a depth of -89 metres with no fins or assistance, breaking the French record, which he improved in 2017 with -90 metres and again recently with -91 metres.
About TUDOR
TUDOR is an award-winning Swiss-made watch brand offering mechanical watches with refined aesthetics, proven reliability and unique value for money. The origins of the TUDOR brand date back to 1926, when ‘The TUDOR’ was first registered on behalf of the founder of Rolex, Hans Wilsdorf. He created the Montres TUDOR SA Company in 1946 to offer watches with the quality and dependability of a Rolex, at a more accessible price point. As a result, over the course of history TUDOR watches became the choice of daring individuals.
Today, the TUDOR collection includes flagship lines such as Black Bay, Pelagos, Glamour and 1926. Since 2015, TUDOR has offered exclusive mechanical Manufacture Calibres with varied functions.
