The underwater search for missing free diver Natalia Molchanova was called off on Wednesday after Spanish rescue services spent more than two days searching the waters off the Balearic Islands, according to the Associated Press.
AIDA, the international diving federation, gave a statement on Sunday stating that the free-diving legend was diving without fins at a depth of 30-40 meters (100-130 feet.) She was diving off the coast of Formentera when Aida said she failed to resurface, according tothe AP.
"She was a free-diving superstar, and we all thought nothing could harm her," said Kimmo Lahtinen, the president of AIDA. "Nothing could happen to her, but, you know, we are playing with the ocean, and when you play with the ocean, you know who is the strongest one," he said, according to the New York Times.
Molchanova holds 41 world records in free diving. She is also a 23-time world champion in free dives, according to the Washington Post. When she went missing, however, she was not aiming to break any records.
Underwater robots that can search a 500-mile radius were brought in by Molchanova's son, according to the Washington Post. When she failed to resurface, local Coast Guard was deployed and a Helimar 213 chopper was sent in to search from above, according to the New York Times.
The rescue team that spanned hundreds of miles is now limiting its search to the surface of the Mediterranean Sea, according to the AP.
