3 stopwatches were used in measuring Sobat's feat

A feat beyond imagination – Can ever you hold your breath for over a minute?

Let’s straightaway start with a challenge. Right now, wherever you are, take a deep breath and hold it. We’ll see how long you last. Chances are, after 30 seconds, you’ll start feeling uncomfortable. At one minute, your chest tightens while your lungs will be feeling the burn and screaming for oxygen. By two minutes, your brain is screaming, “BREATHE, YOU FOOL”! And if you make it to two minutes, congratulations — you’re above average! Now picture doing that not just for a minute or two but for an astonishing 24 minutes and 37.36 seconds!

Yes, you read that right. Sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, right? Well on March 27, 2021, Croatian freediver Budimir Šobat (or “Buda” as his friends call him) made this a reality when he set the Guinness world record for the longest voluntary breath-hold underwater: an astonishing 24 minutes and 37.36 seconds! What’s even crazier? He did it for charity. It wasn’t just about endurance but about a cause greater than himself, extreme training and mental fortitude.

But how did he do it? Superpowers? A set of hidden gills? A deal with Poseidon? The real answer is even more fascinating. This isn’t just a story about a man with superhuman lungs. It’s a story of discipline, mind-over-matter and an unshakable will to push human limits. Let’s dive (pun intended) into the details of how this incredible feat was achieved, explore the science behind breath-holding and sprinkle in some humour plus trivia along the way.

Meet Budimir Šobat – The breath-holding champion

Born in Croatia, Budimir Šobat (often called Buda) is no stranger to the world of extreme sports and freediving. Today, he is a popular breathing control expert, extreme athlete and a freediver known for pushing the human body's limits. As a disciplined and passionate athlete, he dedicated years to mastering the art of static apnea. This is a discipline in which a person remains motionless in water while holding their breath. While most people are gasping for air after running up the stairs, Šobat trained his body and mind to remain calm, oxygen-efficient and still for nearly half an hour underwater. Despite being a champion in the sport, Šobat is a relatively humble and reserved figure which is ironic considering he can literally steal the breath away from anyone just by talking about his achievements!

Why attempt such a record?

Interestingly, Šobat didn’t pursue this record for fame, fortune or personal glory. His primary motivation? He aimed to raise funds and stir awareness for children affected by the 2020 earthquake in Petrinja, Croatia. Šobat attempted this mind-bending record for a cause bigger than himself. it was about giving hope to those in need. That makes his achievement even more admirable because it wasn’t just about endurance but about making a real difference.

So, while most of us hold our breath only when watching a scary movie or sneaking past a sleeping pet, Šobat did it for nearly 25 minutes underwater to change lives. And he made it look effortless. But here’s the kicker — he used oxygen beforehand. Before we start questioning reality, let’s break down how this actually works.

The science behind it | Training for an unbelievable feat

There are two types of static apnea records. They are…

Without prior oxygen inhalation (pure human endurance) - The record is 11 minutes and 54 seconds (held by Stéphane Mifsud).

With prior oxygen inhalation - The world record (which is now owned by Šobat) is 24 minutes and 37.36 seconds.

Pre-oxygenation was his secret weapon. So, what’s the difference? Read further.

Pre-breathing pro – The oxygen hack

Šobat’s record falls under the category of "oxygen-assisted static apnea". This means that he didn’t just take a single deep breath. He first spent several minutes inhaling pure oxygen. Breath-holders trying to make a record are allowed to inhale pure oxygen for several minutes beforehand. It’s one of the permissible Guinness World Records rules. Before his dive, Šobat breathed pure oxygen for several minutes.

This process called pre-oxygenation, allows the lungs to conserve more oxygen than regularly and delays the build-up of carbon dioxide. Build-up of carbon dioxide is the real reason that we feel the urge to breathe. However, pre-oxygenation doesn’t change one critical thing and that is mental control. Even with excess oxygen, resisting the primal urge to inhale takes extreme discipline. To hold one’s breath for that long requires years of rigorous training which is both physical and mental.

Fun fact – The reason you feel desperate for air isn’t because of low oxygen, but because CO₂ levels get too high. That panicky feeling? It’s your brain screaming “Get rid of this CO₂, NOW”!

The other disciplines that he had to master

Superhuman lungs – He practised special pranayama yoga techniques which increased his lung capacity. A freediver’s lungs can expand up to 50% more than an average person’s. ‘Belly breathing’ and diaphragmatic breathing helped him improve oxygen absorption. Therefore, Šobat trained his lungs to hold more air than a typical person’s. Some of his techniques included were…

Diaphragmatic breathing – Filling the lungs from bottom up (also used in meditation and yoga).
Lung stretching exercises – To expand air-holding capacity.
Slow exhalation drills – To train the body to use oxygen more efficiently.

The average human lung volume is around 6 litres. But elite freedivers like Šobat can increase their lung capacity by up to 50%! That’s almost like upgrading from a standard car engine to a sports car engine but for breathing. Imagine trying to stuff an extra 2 litres of air into a balloon that’s already full. That’s what Šobat’s lungs do, except without popping.

Jedi-level mental training – Let’s be honest. Most of us panic when our WiFi goes down for 10 seconds. Now imagine being underwater, alone with your thoughts, for nearly 25 minutes. Controlling panic is crucial. He used meditation and mindfulness to suppress the brain’s natural reflexes that force breathing. Think of it like resisting the urge to check your phone after hearing a notification…except if you fail, you drown! Surviving nearly half an hour underwater isn’t just about the body but it’s also about the mind.

Šobat practised meditation and mindfulness to control his urge to breathe. Slowing his heart rate to conserve oxygen is something he had to master.
He trained to remain calm under extreme stress which slowed his heart rate and conserved oxygen.
He resisted the mental panic that usually sets in when CO₂ levels rise. Fighting the brain’s desperate urge to breathe was necessary.

Think about it – When most of us stub our toe, we yelp in agony. Šobat trained himself to ignore the brain’s desperate commands to inhale even when every fibre of his being was screaming for oxygen.

Cold water adaptation – The body naturally resists breath-holding in cold water. By exposing himself to cold-water immersion, Šobat trained his body to stay calm in extreme conditions.

Carbon dioxide tolerance training – The urge to breathe isn’t due to lack of oxygen but the build-up of CO₂ (carbon dioxide) as stated earlier. He trained his body to tolerate higher levels of CO₂ which allowed him to push further without gasping for air.

Training the mammalian dive reflex – Believe it or not, humans have a built-in survival mechanism that helps us hold our breath. We are just like dolphins and whales! It’s called the ‘Mammalian Dive Reflex’ and kicks in when we submerge in cold water.

Heart rate slows down (bradycardia) – Less oxygen is used.
Blood shifts to vital organs – The brain and heart get priority.
Muscles enter an ‘energy-saving mode’ – Reducing oxygen consumption.

March 27, 2021 – The big day!

The stage was set at a swimming pool. The record-breaking attempt took place in Sisak, Croatia under strict Guinness World Records supervision. Judges, medical personnel and spectators watched in anticipation. He was now geared up for the mission.

📍 Location – Sisak, Croatia.
🛑 Record to beat – 24 minutes, 3 seconds.
🎯 Mission – Hold breath longer than anyone in history.

Šobat spent several minutes inhaling oxygen to maximise his reserves. He pre-breathed pure oxygen. Then, in front of official Guinness World Records judges, he took one final deep breath and submerged himself. He remained motionless to conserve oxygen.

The crowd remained silent. The world watched.

At 5 minutes in – He looked relaxed.

At 10 minutes in – Some spectators started feeling lightheaded just watching.

At 15 minutes in – Even trained freedivers were in awe.

At 20 minutes – He was already in uncharted territory. People started wondering ‘Is this man even human?’

At 24 minutes – The anticipation peaked. But he beat the old record! He wasn’t done yet.

Even seasoned freedivers started whispering, "How is he still down there?!"

At 24 minutes and 37.36 seconds, Šobat emerged victorious yet remarkably calm. He broke the previous world record by 34 seconds. He had just broken the previous record of 24 minutes and 3 seconds (set by Aleix Segura). The first thing he did? Smile and wave. No collapsing or gasping. Just a calm champion who had just spent nearly half an hour without breathing.

💥 Mission accomplished!

How does this compare to normies?

Let’s put Šobat’s achievement into perspective below.

😅 Average person – 30-90 seconds of breath-holding.
🏊 Trained swimmer – 2-3 minutes.
🏊 Trained freedivers – 5-7 minutes.
🌊 Professional freediver (without oxygen) – 8-10 minutes.
🏊 World-class freedivers (without oxygen) – 10-12 minutes.
⚡ Budimir Šobat (with oxygen) – 24 minutes and 37 seconds!

That’s nearly the length of an entire sitcom episode. Imagine someone watching Friends underwater without breathing. Or better yet — he could have held his breath for an entire ad break during a football match.

Mind-blowing breath-holding trivia

Here’s where things get even more fascinating...

🛑 Your brain wants air and not oxygen – The urge to breathe isn’t triggered by a lack of oxygen but by rising carbon dioxide levels.

🐬 You can trick your body – Freedivers use the mammalian dive reflex which an instinct found in dolphins and whales. It’s a breathing technique which slows the heart rate to conserves oxygen.

😲 Holding your breath increases lifespan? – Regular breath-holding can improve lung function, reduce stress and even help with blood circulation!

🏊 The average person v/s Šobat – Most people can hold their breath for 30–90 seconds. Šobat did 24 minutes and 37.36 seconds. Talk about making us all feel unfit!

😲 The longest unassisted breath-hold record (no oxygen boost) is 11 minutes and 54 seconds by Stéphane Mifsud!

😲 Astronauts also train in breath-holding techniques because it helps them stay calm in emergencies.

😲 Even sea animals struggle to match Šobat’s record — A dolphin can only hold it’s breath for around 15 minutes!

💤 Sleeping slows breathing – Monks meditate for hours on a single breath cycle as part of their practice.

The legacy of a breath-holding legend

Budimir Šobat didn’t just set a record but he pushed human boundaries and raising funds for children in need. His record-breaking attempt raised money and awareness for children affected by Croatia’s 2020 earthquake. Think about that for a second. Most world records are set for personal achievement. Šobat? He literally held his breath to give hope to others. If that isn’t superhero material, I don’t know what is.

His achievement is a testament to the power of dedication, human will, mindset and training. But beyond the record, what truly makes him remarkable is his heart for using his extraordinary abilities to help those in need. That’s the mark of a real hero. So, the next time you’re underwater in the bath or swimming pool and trying to beat your personal best of 37 seconds, remember Budimir Šobat did it for almost 25 minutes. And if you’re feeling particularly ambitious? Well, start training… and maybe, just maybe, one day, we’ll be reading about your world record. The impossible can become possible.

Until then, breathe easy!

Final words

If you found this story inspiring, share it with your friends. Who knows? Maybe you’ll encourage the next breath-holding world champion! Want to try breath-holding like a pro? Start small. If this story has left you inspired, why not try breath-holding yourself? Just remember…

✅ Always train safely — Never practice alone in the water!
✅ Work on lung capacity and relaxation — Mental control is just as important as physical endurance.
✅ And most importantly… don’t try to break Šobat’s record unless you really know what you’re doing!

Who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll be the next record-breaker.

Disclaimer – The images have been borrowed from Guinness World Records’ website and doesn’t belong to the blog owner. No commercial activity or copyright infringement is intended.

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