Heinola (Finland) (AFP)

Immersed in two-degree water, Arthur Guérin-Boëri walks along the ice cap covering Lake Sonnanen, controlling his breathing to reach 120 m, a record-breaking performance in three minutes of freediving.

In southeast Finland, the skies are cloudy on Thursday but clear breaks shine the ice that covers Lake Sonnanen, known to be one of the clearest in the country, providing pure, crystal-clear water.

In the ice, eight holes were made, the one at the start then triangles at 20 meters, 40 m, 60 m, 80 m, 100 m, 110 m and finally 120 m, the goal that Arthur Guérin set for himself. Boëri, French freediver in search of a world record in breaststroke and in combination in dynamic freediving under ice, that is to say, horizontally.

The discipline is structured and world records are now under the aegis of the International Federation (CMAS), which this year opens the chapter of best performances.

As usual, the five-time world champion in dynamic apnea prepares two hours before the feat.

In a nearby sauna, it stores heat.

Then, he puts on a big parka and walks a hundred meters to reach the starting hole.

He performs some apnea exercises for three-quarters of an hour.

He slips into cold water, the air temperature is 6 degrees.

He is waiting for the starting signal given by the CMAS judge.

Weighted at the neck, it inflates with air to "leave full like a balloon", he explains to AFP, before going under the ice, hanging on a cable, called a lifeline.

"There is fear, anxiety, it's something that I dread a lot but it's a risk that I consciously take and for which I have prepared myself. I manage to lower my level of stress. And I surrender to something that transcends me. It's all quite mystical, but it's necessary when you do this kind of performance. "

For three minutes, without slippers or gloves, he propels himself from meter to meter, his eyes riveted on the cable below him.

"Under the ice you feel relatively good. There is this very lunar diffuse light which is amazing. It's beautiful," he said.

At 120 m, it's a breath of air.

With his head above the water, he takes off his mask, looks at the judge, makes the 'ok' sign with his hand (two fingers that form a circle), as provided for in the rules.

The judge then validates by handing a white card to the freediver.

"I felt really good, it went well, better than I expected, with a very late urge to breathe, 40 meters away. I didn't suffer from the cold that much and I 'I had fun during this dive, "said Guérin-Boêri, who in a year will attempt a new record, but this time in swimming trunks.

© 2021 AFP