'The life and soul of freediving': sport pays tribute to Natalia Molchanova

She pushed the boundaries of freediving for 12 years, her habit of setting world records earning her the nickname the Machine.

[VIDEO] World Record: Natalia Molchanova 101m WR.. Natalia Molchanova's 101m CWT Freedive World Record. Natalia Molchanova has become the first woman in the world to complete a 101m Constant Weight Freedive.

But Natalia Molchanova – the Russian considered the greatest freediver of all time – is now feared dead after failing to surface after a recreational dive with friends off the Spanish island of Formentera at the weekend.

The tightknit community devoted to freediving, or diving without breathing apparatus, has reacted with shock. Commentator Stephan Whelan said: 'This came as a complete surprise. She wasn't trying to go for any records, or push herself at all, she was just on holiday, relaxing with some friends.'

Molchanova, 53, holds 41 world records in freediving and can hold her breath for nine minutes. In May, she dived to a depth of 71 metres in waters off Egypt.

'She almost consistently set two to three world records every year. And in 2005, she set nine different world records,' said Whelan. 'She was amazing at churning out these freedive records. We had never seen anything like it.'.