swedish/norwegian

fear can either paralyze or motivate - for li, it was the latter! a fear of deep water led her to start freediving and four years after her first dive, she is the founder of two freediving schools in Sweden, freedive nordic and a non-profit club for kids called ariel fridykningsskola.

“i spent 15 years in the swedish armed forces working as a soldier and officer, doing front line missions in africa and the middle east, where i found myself thinking it was quite silly that i could do that but not feel comfortable when being perfectly safe back home in sweden diving in the ocean or a lake. i discovered that holding my breath under water and going down towards the unknown had nothing to do with the element i was in, it was all about my internal journey and perceived limitations. my fears became curiosity and an urge to go deeper vertically and deeper into myself.”

this drive and determination helped li become the swedish freediving champion in 2021 and 2022, setting the nordic record in bifins. we are equally as impressed with her position as head of security for kvinna till kvinna, an international foundation for women’s rights.

as for the future? li has her sights set on the 2024 olympics.

she is li and we are the wonders.