Current World Record for Holding Breath
The official static apnea world record for breath holding is 24 minutes and 37.36 seconds, set by Budimir Šobat on March 27, 2023, under rules requiring pre-breath pure oxygen and no blackouts. The record is recognized by Guinness World Records and the CMAS-affiliated freediving community as the benchmark for static breath-hold performance. The attempt took place in a controlled environment with medical supervision, and the full protocol is documented in the Guinness World Records database Guinness World Records.
Static apnea records differ from dynamic apnea and underwater distance records because the athlete remains still on land or in a shallow pool while breathing pure oxygen beforehand. The 24-minute mark is considered a physiological ceiling for trained humans under current competition rules, and no verified record has surpassed it as of the latest Guinness update. The record is tracked alongside other freediving disciplines such as dynamic no fins, constant weight, and free immersion.
Top Performers and Historical Context
Budimir Šobat, a Croatian freediving instructor and multiple national record holder, set the current mark after years of specialized CO₂ and O₂ tolerance tables. His preparation included gradual breath-hold extensions, diaphragmatic breathing drills, and controlled hypoxic exposure under professional guidance. The attempt was part of a broader trend in which freedivers push static apnea limits using standardized oxygen protocols rather than exhaustive physical exertion.
Previous records were held by athletes such as Stéphane Mifsud, whose 11-minute 35-second static apnea mark stood for years before the oxygen-assisted protocol enabled longer holds. The shift to pure oxygen pre-breathing changed the competitive landscape, and modern records now routinely exceed 20 minutes. The progression is documented in freediving organizations and sports science analyses Forbes.
Safety, Physiology, and Training Standards
Breath-hold records carry serious risks, including hypoxic blackout, shallow-water blackout, and cardiac stress, which is why all sanctioned attempts require spotters, medical staff, and strict safety protocols. Organizations such as Guinness World Records and freediving federations mandate that attempts be supervised and that athletes demonstrate recovery within a set time window. The field has adopted standardized safety rules to reduce fatalities during training and competition.
Training methods include CO₂ tables, O₂ tables, and progressive breath-hold extensions, often combined with yoga-style breathing and relaxation techniques. Athletes also focus on lung packing, equalization, and mental focus to extend tolerance. Competitive freediving is governed by bodies such as AIDA International and CMAS, which publish rulebooks and safety guidelines AIDA International and CMAS.