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Static apnea (STA) is a discipline in which a person holds their breath (apnea) underwater for as long as possible, and need not swim any distance.[1] Static apnea is defined by theInternational Association for Development of Apnea (AIDA International) and is distinguished from theGuinness World Record for breath holding underwater, which allows the use of oxygen in preparation. It requires that the respiratory tract be immersed, with the body either in the water or at the surface, and may be performed in a pool or open water (sea, lake, river, etc.). Static apnea is the only AIDA International discipline measuring duration, and one of the three disciplines considered for the international competitions by team, withconstant weight anddynamic with fins.
Beta blockers (doping in sport of freediving; prolong every type of apnea by reducingheart rate,blood pressure andcardiac output) can prolong static apnea for up to 20%.[2]
| Duration | Name | Date | Location | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:35[3] | Stéphane Mifsud | 8 June 2009 | La Crau, France | AIDA |
| 10:45 | Branko Petrović | 11 November 2017 | Subotica, Serbia | CMAS |
| 10:31 | Florian Dagoury | 13 March 2020 | Koh Tao, Thailand | AIDA |
| 10:12 | Tom Sietas | 7 June 2008 | Athens, Greece | |
| 10:07 | Aleix Segura | 19 June 2015 | Belgrade, Serbia | AIDA |
| 10:03.96[4] | Mateusz Malina | 26 March 2018 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 12th Fazza competition |
| 09:58.66[5] | Goran Čolak ** | 16 June 2017 | Cagliari, Italy | CMAS |
*Branko Petrović also has 11:54 under World Guiness (2014, Dubai, UAE).[6] He never reduplicated this performance under the level of anti-doping scrutiny required by official freediving federations such as CMAS and AIDA.
**Goran Čolak also has 11:06.14 and 10:19 under special rules at 12th and 11th Fazza freediving competition respectively, in Dubai, UAE.[7][8]
| Duration | Name | Date | Location | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:07 | Heike Schwerdtner | 27 June 2024 | Kaunas, Lithuania | AIDA |
| 09:02 | Natalia Molchanova | 21 June 2013 | Belgrade, Serbia | AIDA |
| 08:53 | Veronika Dittes | 15 June 2017 | CMAS | |
| 08:33 | Gabriela Grézlová | 28 July 2015 | Mulhouse, France | CMAS |
| 08:01 | Jessea Lu | 27 August 2016 | AIDA |
There is a variation of the static apnea discipline where it's possible to breathe 100% oxygen for up to 30 minutes prior to the breathhold. This is not part of formal competitions, but is occasionally used to set individual records.
| Duration (minutes) | Name | Date | Location | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29:03 | Vitomir Maričić | 14 June 2025 | Opatija, Croatia | Guinness[9][10] |
| 24:37 | Budimir Šobat | 27 March 2021 | Sisak, Croatia | Guinness[11][12] |
| 24:03 | Aleix Segura | 28 February 2016 | Barcelona, Spain | Guinness |
| 23:09 | Aleix Segura | 16 February 2016 | Barcelona, Spain | Guinness |
| 23:01 | Goran Čolak | 20 June 2014 | Vir, Croatia | Guinness |
| 22:30 | Goran Čolak | 29 September 2013 | Zagreb, Croatia | Guinness |
| 22:22 | Tom Sietas | 30 May 2012 | Changsha, China | Guinness |
| 22:00 | Stig Severinsen | 3 May 2012 | London, United Kingdom | |
| 21:33 | Peter Colat | 17 September 2011 | Ebikon, Switzerland | Guinness |
| 20:21 | Ricardo Bahia | 16 September 2010 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Guinness |
| 20:10 | Stig Severinsen | 1 April 2010 | Kattegatcentret, Denmark | Guinness |
| 19:21 | Peter Colat | 14 Feb 2010 | St. Gallen, Switzerland | Guinness |
| 19:02 | Nicola Putignano | 21 May 2009 | Milan, Italy | Guinness |
| 18:32 | Karol Meyer | 10 July 2009 | Florianópolis, Brasil | Guinness |
| 18:03 | Gianluca Genoni | 26 November 2008 | Goito, Italy | |
| 17:19 | Tom Sietas | 19 September 2008 | New York City, United States | Guinness |
| 17:04 | David Blaine | 30 April 2008 | Chicago, United States | Guinness |
| 16:32 | Peter Colat | 10 February 2008 | St. Gallen, Switzerland | AIDA |
| 16:13 | Tom Sietas | 23 February 2008 | Madrid, Spain | Guinness |
| 16:04 | Peter Colat | 10 February 2007 | St. Gallen, Switzerland | AIDA |
| 14:12 | Tom Sietas | 5 January 2006 | Milan, Italy | Guinness |
| 13:05 | Bill Strömberg | 3 October 2004 | Lausanne, Switzerland | AIDA |
| 12:47 | Giancarlo Bellingrath | 15 June 2003 | Naples, Italy | |
| 12:34 | Gianluca Genoni | 11 May 2002 | Busto Arsizio, Italy |
