FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

US Freediving President Awarded Highest Honor as International Freediving Judge

The United States Apnea Association (USAA) is pleased to announce that Grant W. Graves, President of the USAA, has been awarded the Best International Freediving Judge for 2008 by the International Center for Apnea Recognition and Education, ICARE.  This is the highest honor a freediving judge can receive from the international community. 

There are over 200 freediving judges with the International Association for the Development of Apnea, AIDA.  Grant is one of the highest level judges within the organization as a Judge Instructor.  He recently was one of six judges to officiate the 2008 AIDA Team World Championships that took place in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt this past September.  That competition completed over fourteen weeks of judging duties for Grant this year.  As a judge, Grant officiates local, national and international competitions, national and world records, and conducts judge courses.  This was Grant’s third nomination for this award; he was nominated in 2004 and 2006.

Grant said, “I am honored to be recognized for all my work with freediving as a judge.  It was an honor to have been nominated in the past and to win this time.  I am very thankful to be able to help grow freediving.  It is amazing to me what this sport allows people to do and what it proves we are capable of.”

ICARE is a direct affiliate of the International Association for the Development of Freediving, AIDA.  As such, ICARE awards the top performers in international freediving each year.  Awards are given to the best male and female freediver, the best new male and female freediver, the best international judge, the best national institution, the best national captain or coach, and special service awards.  Results are based on nominations and voting from the entire international freediving community.

The USAA is a nonprofit association founded on the democratic representation of freediving within the United States and internationally.  Founded in 2003, the USAA consists of an active membership dedicated to furthering freediving in the United States and abroad. For more information about the USAA, the U.S. National Freediving Team, and membership please visit www.usfreediving.org.

The International Association for the Development of Freediving, AIDA, is the international sanctioning body for freediving, individual and team competition, and freediving world record attempts.  For more information about AIDA please visit http://www.aida-international.org

Contact Information:

Grant W. Graves, President
United States Apnea Association, USAA

3642 Seahorn Dr.
Malibu, CA 90265
Email: makog@aol.com
Phone: 310-560-6104

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