Freediving record, he held it for so long...

A historic performance in Croatia

On June 14, 2025, Croatian freediver Vitomir Maričić set an impressive static apnea record. In the pool of the Bristol Hotel in Opatija, he stayed underwater for 29 minutes and 3 seconds, breaking the previous world record. In front of around 100 spectators and under the supervision of five official judges, the feat was validated by Guinness World Records.

This record was achieved in the static apnea category with pure oxygen. Before diving, Maričić breathed oxygen for several minutes to saturate his lungs. This method allows for significantly longer apnea duration, far beyond performances achieved with air alone.

A national record that succeeds Budimir Šobat

Before Maričić, another Croatian, Budimir Šobat, already held the record with 24 minutes and 34 seconds achieved in 2021. By pushing this limit back by almost five more minutes, Maričić has cemented Croatia's reputation as one of the leading countries in static freediving.

What sporting value?

It is important to note that major freediving federations such as AIDA or CMAS do not certify performances achieved with pure oxygen. For them, the true static apnea record is the one achieved solely after breathing normally. In this category, the official record remains that of Frenchman Stéphane Mifsud, who held it for 11 minutes and 35 seconds in 2009.

So, if the figure achieved by Maričić is impressive and has been known around the world, it belongs to a parallel discipline, often considered spectacular but less representative of high-level sport freediving.

Summary table of records

An achievement that fascinates the general public

Beyond the debates over sporting legitimacy, Vitomir Maričić's performance has made an impression. It illustrates the incredible adaptability of the human body and the mental discipline required by freediving. Croatia, already renowned for its freediving champions, has once again established itself as a land of records.