Şahika Ercümen

Şahika Ercümen was born on January 16, 1985, in the historic city of Çanakkale. She built a unique career path that bridges health science and extreme sport. After completing her early education at Gazi Primary School and Milli Piyango Anatolian High School, she moved to Ankara to study nutrition. She graduated from Başkent University's Faculty of Health Sciences with a degree as a dietitian. This professional background informs her approach to the physical demands of her underwater pursuits. Her journey into aquatic sports started with scuba diving and underwater rugby before shifting focus to free diving. Since 2001, she has represented Turkey in four distinct national teams: underwater hockey, underwater rugby, underwater orienteering, and free diving. Her dedication led to participation in multiple World and European Championships across these disciplines. The transition to competitive free diving proved transformative, allowing her to set new benchmarks for human endurance without breathing apparatus. Ercümen now stands as a world record holder in free diving. She has broken numerous records in various categories, including constant weight and variable weight dives. Her achievements have brought international attention to Turkish sports and highlighted the capabilities of female athletes in extreme environments. She continues to train and compete while maintaining her work in nutrition, proving that scientific knowledge and athletic prowess can coexist at the highest level.[edit]