Şahika Ercümen is a national athlete competing in the discipline of freediving. She has represented Türkiye in national and international competitions and has set multiple records. She has also received formal training as a nutrition and dietetics expert. She actively participates in social responsibility initiatives and conducts work on environmental issues.

Life

Şahika Ercümen was born on 16 January 1985 in Çanakkale. She struggled with severe asthma from an early age. It was this illness that introduced her to sports; the breathing exercises she performed during childhood became the first steps toward her future achievements. A turning point in her life occurred during a sailing club excursion in high school. On that day, for the first time, Ercümen came into close contact with the sea and discovered her passion for diving. She described this moment with the words: “For me, life did not begin when I took my first breath, but when I held my breath.”

After graduating from Çanakkale Milli Piyango Anadolu Lisesi, she pursued her undergraduate education in Nutrition and Dietetics at Başkent University in Ankara. She is currently continuing her postgraduate studies at the same university. She speaks English and German at an advanced level.

Dominica International Freediving Tournament (Anadolu Agency)

Sports Career and Records

In her sporting career, she has competed in underwater hockey and swimming, but has achieved international success primarily in freediving. Since 1998, she has won over 100 medals in national and international competitions and set numerous Turkish records.

A significant turning point in her career came during a period when she could not secure sponsorship. She participated in the reality competition Fear Factor and won the contest. Using the prize money she earned, she funded her first official record attempt, reaching a depth of 110 meters underwater without fins and breaking both the women’s and men’s records at the time.

In 2023, during a record attempt held in Karamağara Bay, Yayladağı, Hatay, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Republic, she dove to a depth of 106 meters in the variable weight no fins category, setting a new world record. In the same year, at the World Freediving Cup held in the Bahamas, she reached 100 meters in 3 minutes and 14 seconds, becoming the Turkish record holder in that category.

In 2025, at the International Freediving Tournament held in Dominica, she won first place in the fixed weight, double fin, and no fins with rope assistance categories, earning a total of three gold and two silver medals. She dedicated this achievement to Youth and Sports Day on 19 May.

After the Dominica International Freediving Tournament (Anadolu Agency)

Social Responsibility Initiatives

As a United Nations Advocate for Life Below Water, Ercümen works on issues related to the protection of water resources, the sustainability of marine habitats, and environmental awareness. She also organizes diving activities with people with disabilities and runs educational projects for children. During her record attempt in Hatay, she announced that she would use the proceeds to provide sports and education scholarships for 100 girls. She continues to dedicate her dives to social responsibility projects to raise awareness about the impact of plastic waste on marine life.

“Advocate for Life Below Water” Şahika Ercümen (Anadolu Agency)

Other Activities

Ercümen has participated in various advertising and film projects, acted in the film “İçimdeki Balık,” and appeared on television programs such as Survivor Türkiye. She is the author of children’s books titled “Denizkızı” and “Delfi.”