Malaysian freediver Terence Teoh Beng Kiat set two national records at the AIDA Malaysia Apnea Warrior Championship 2026 2.0 in Kuala Lumpur, covering 186m in Dynamic Apnea with Fins (DYN) and 150m in Dynamic No Fins (DNF).

The championship was held at Arena Sukan Kuala Lumpur from 7 to 9 November. Both swims earned a white card. The DYN record came on 7 November and the DNF record on 9 November.

The new marks followed his 200m national record in Dynamic with Bifins (DYNB) at the AIDA Freediving Series GBA 2026 in Hong Kong on 25 October.

“Looking back, this achievement was not just about the distance. It was also about recovery, patience, teamwork and trusting the process,” Terence told ToughASIA.

DNF was the harder of the two, he said. He had done fewer than four dedicated DNF training sessions, as most of his preparation went into the bifin discipline, and before the competition he was advised to surface at about 80 to 100m.

“Unlike DYNB, DNF requires no equipment assistance. It demands precise technique, strong body coordination, CO₂ tolerance and muscular endurance to cover longer distances,” he said.

His longest DNF distance in training was 75m, three days before the competition. He called the result a pleasant surprise and said it showed there is still plenty to learn in the discipline.

Terence said he was physically and mentally exhausted after the Hong Kong competition, and a cramp in his right hamstring on the same day took several days to recover.

He eased back into the pool with repeated 25m laps. After about a week of recovery, he could only manage 100m on his first attempt at 150m, then completed 150m the following day.

After Hong Kong, he and his coach had agreed to focus on DYN with the aim of breaking another record, targeting 180m. Before his official attempt, he was still worried about reinjuring the hamstring.

“After completing my surface protocol, I looked around to confirm that I had achieved my target. The feeling of relief and excitement was indescribable,” he said.

The 200m in Hong Kong was not planned either. Terence said he entered the Hong Kong pool competition mainly for experience and to prepare for the Kuala Lumpur championship, and that his coach, Eddie, had set his target at 160m. He miscalculated his turns and was so overwhelmed after surfacing that he could not give the correct distance.

“When I was informed of the result, I was completely blank. I even double-checked with the judge to confirm whether the distance was really 200m,” he said.

He spent about 30 minutes in the rest area trying to take it in. He also completed his surface protocol without a loss of motor control (LMC), which led him and his coach to believe 200m may not yet be his limit.

Terence, a freediving instructor, first competed in DYNB in 2023, when he joined a friend for fun. This year, his target became qualifying for the 2027 AIDA World Championship, which Malaysia will host, and representing the country. He understood that a top-three ranking in each discipline would be important for qualification.

He received his first pair of professional bifins and began pool training in May 2026. His original plan centred on Constant Weight No Fins (CNF), and he had already registered for three depth competitions, so his training had to be reworked.

He did no pool training in July, when his plan was to train in Manila and compete in Taiwan. He resumed in August until mid-September, then returned to Semporna for teaching commitments until 11 October before settling into a weekly routine alternating gym and pool sessions.

In an Instagram post after the Kuala Lumpur championship, Terence called freediving “a profound journey of mind over body.” He told ToughASIA that every 15 to 20m he reminds himself with positive words to stay relaxed, and closes his eyes during certain sections of a dive to keep his concentration.

“When my body starts sending signals, I try not to fight against it or become impatient. I maintain my rhythm and avoid making sudden changes to my finning technique,” he said.

He credited Eddie for adjusting his programme around his depth training and competitions without pressuring him to catch up.

“What I appreciate most is that he never pushes me beyond what my body can handle. Instead, he gives me achievable training programmes, encourages me along the way and gradually builds my confidence,” Terence said.

He said well-trained safety buddies, a prepared medical team and proper emergency support let him focus on his performance, but that confidence should never mean ignoring the risks of the sport.

“We should always respect the risks and never take safety for granted,” he said.

Terence said his next major goal is the 2027 AIDA World Championship, where he hopes to achieve convincing results and represent Malaysia with pride.

“I hope to make my country, my coach, my team and everyone who has supported me proud,” he said.