by Philip Monte Verde
In 2013, the ESPN "Nine for IX" series presented the story of Audrey Mestre and Pipin Ferreras. The documentary, "No Limits," ultimately proved a cautionary tale of the influence of charismatic psychopaths; a tale that sadly is too familiar.
Audrey Mestre found freedom from scoliosis by being in the water. Overcoming disability, a condition that often makes on feel "less than fully human," may have attracted her to a sport that allowed her to become greater than the average human.
In 2013, the ESPN "Nine for IX" series presented the story of Audrey Mestre and Pipin Ferreras. The documentary, "No Limits," ultimately proved a cautionary tale of the influence of charismatic psychopaths; a tale that sadly is too familiar.
Audrey Mestre found freedom from scoliosis by being in the water. Overcoming disability, a condition that often makes on feel "less than fully human," may have attracted her to a sport that allowed her to become greater than the average human.
Freediving relies on the diver to hold their breath, rather than the use of oxygen tanks, in seeking to push the limits of human ability in terms of depth. Pipin Ferreras was the undisputed master of the freediving community. After meeting Ferreras, Mestre began to hero-worship him, something undoubtedly alluring to our story's narcissist. The two soon married and Mestre began her training as a freediver.
With time, the psychical cost of diving proved to be too much for Ferreras, forcing him into retirement. At the same time another freediver, Tanya Streeter, was setting female freediving records. Age had forced Ferreras to live vicariously through his wife Mestre. His competitive drive was surely a driving force in Mestre seeking to one-up Streeter's world record.
Yet this drive helped bring a strain to their marriage. A narcissist or psychopath, long used to having their way, will react in extreme ways when they are discovered. While no full investigation was ever made, it is alleged that Ferreras narcissism may have driven him to extremes in the planning of Mestre's record-breaking dive attempt.
The full documentary is available online here.
I recommend not watching it while unable to sleep at 4 AM while flying over the Midwest as I did.
With time, the psychical cost of diving proved to be too much for Ferreras, forcing him into retirement. At the same time another freediver, Tanya Streeter, was setting female freediving records. Age had forced Ferreras to live vicariously through his wife Mestre. His competitive drive was surely a driving force in Mestre seeking to one-up Streeter's world record.
Yet this drive helped bring a strain to their marriage. A narcissist or psychopath, long used to having their way, will react in extreme ways when they are discovered. While no full investigation was ever made, it is alleged that Ferreras narcissism may have driven him to extremes in the planning of Mestre's record-breaking dive attempt.
The full documentary is available online here.
I recommend not watching it while unable to sleep at 4 AM while flying over the Midwest as I did.