World record for breath hold

World Record in Air Holding: The Limits of the Possible

Freediving is more than just a sport - it is an art of the possible, which requires discipline, concentration and mastery of one's own breathing. The world record for breath-holding is a fascinating challenge in which athletes push themselves to the limits of human potential.

How long can a man hold his breath?

The world record in the static discipline of the AIDA Freediving Association has been set at 11 minutes 35 seconds since 8 June 2009 and was set by Stéphane Mifsud (France).

Women's World Record Holding Breath

The world record in the static discipline of the AIDA Women's Freediving Association has been set by Molchanova Natalia (Russia) since 21 June 2013 at 11 minutes 35 seconds.

Holding world record in the air with oxygen

Not a competitive discipline, but the Guinness Book of Record sets a record for air restraint in which the athlete is breathing pure oxygen. The current record is 24 minutes 37 seconds and was set by Budimir Sobat (Croatia) on 27 March 2021.

Since 2009, Karoline Meyer (Brazil) has held the equivalent record in the air with previous breathing of oxygen with a time of 18 minutes and 32 seconds.

How can I train to hold my breath?

The ability to hold the air for a long time varies greatly from person to person. But each person can train his or her individual ability to hold the air for a long time.

Theoretical understanding of respiration and the urge to breath

To hold your breath, familiarize yourself with the theory of breathing. You should understand how breathing works, how gas exchange works in the alveoli, how your body's cells absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide into the blood. Also, familiarize yourself with the breath stimulus and understand how it is triggered and what the symptoms are like. With this understanding, you can mentally adjust to the state of apnea (Greek for non-breathing) and relax more deeply.

Lie on your back in a safe place

Find a quiet and safe place and lie down. Relax your body and mind for about 5 minutes. If you are recording your heart rate, it should reach resting (between 60 and 80 beats per minute in most adults) after about 5 minutes.

Do some warm-up rounds

To get used to the feeling of breathlessness and trigger the dive reflex, start with a few light exercises and gradually increase the apnea time. Set a timer of 1 minute, 1 minute and 15 seconds, and then a timer of 1 minute and 30 seconds.

Take a deep breath a few times, inhale as deeply as you can, and hold your breath. Stay still, relax every muscle in your body, and try not to think about anything. This state of affairs is best compared to how you feel just before you fall asleep.

If you feel the urge to breathe, don't cramp, don't count, just lie down and trust that your body has enough oxygen, that it only responds to the rise in carbon dioxide and that you're fine.

Make a maximum attempt

Now you're ideally prepared to test how long you can hold the air. Without moving, you lie down for 3-5 minutes and try to deepen your relaxation. Take a few deep breaths and hold the air.

After about a minute, you'll feel the first signs of breathing: you'll get warm, you'll feel pressure in your chest or throat. If you feel the urge to swallow, swallow. Take these symptoms, caused by the slow rise of carbon dioxide in your bloodstream, and focus on something pleasant: a holiday memory, a trip or a happy moment with your loved ones!

After a while, the urge to breathe gets stronger and stronger. The urge to breathe dominates you. Maybe you won't be able to breathe for another 10 or 20 seconds?

Can you lose consciousness while holding your breath?

For most beginners, the limiting factor in stopping air is not the decrease in oxygen saturation in the blood, but the increase in carbon dioxide and thus a shift in the pH of the blood.

Still, you always have to reckon with the possibility of fainting when you hold your breath. The body has protective mechanisms, and even if you lose consciousness, you will start breathing spontaneously.

However, this results in the most important rule of freediving: Never hold your breath alone in the water!

If you faint in the water, a reflex of your body prevents you from breathing again, and if no one gets you out of the water in time and breathes if necessary, you will drown.

At home, in bed, on the sofa or on the floor, you are safe and able to exercise without hesitation.

How can I learn to freedive

Sign up for a Basic Freediver course and you will learn how to hold your breath longer. In the course, you will also learn how to hold your breath safely in the water and can further improve your performance.