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Stig Severinsen | |
|---|---|
 Severinsen in 2009. | |
| Born | (1973-03-08)8 March 1973 (age 52) Aalborg, Denmark |
| Occupation | Freediver |
Stig Åvall Severinsen (born 8 March 1973) is a Danishfreediver. He is a four-time world freediving champion and holder of multipleGuinness World Records. He also wroteTræk Vejret – mere energi, mindre stress (2009), published in English in 2010 asBreatheology – The Art of Conscious Breathing.
Severinsen has a degree in biology and aPhD in medicine.[1][2] He began experimenting with holding his breath as a child at the bottom of his parents' pool.[1] He started swimming at the age of 6 and was awarded National Champion four years in a row at 9, 10, 11 and 12.[citation needed] In 1993–2003 he playedUnderwater Rugby, and was a member of the Danish national team.[citation needed] During university studies inBarcelona, Spain in 1998–99, he playedunderwater hockey on the Spanish national team.[citation needed] A fascination with long breath holds under water drew him to the world of free diving.In 2010 he founded Breatheology, an online platform teaching optimal health and performance via breathing, breath holding and mental training techniques.
Combiningyoga and his knowledge ofphysiology in freediving, Severinsen became a record holder of fourAIDAfreediving world records. He achieved two Guinness World Records in 2010: in March that year he swam 236 feet (72 meters) under ice wearing only swimming trunks and goggles, exceedingWim Hof's record of March 2000 by 47.6 feet (14.5 meters); and in April, after inhaling pure oxygen, he held his breath for 20 minutes and 10 seconds in a tank full ofsharks at the Kattegat Centre inGrenaa.[3] In May 2012 he was awarded the record of "Longest time breath held voluntarily (male)" by Guinness World Records for holding his breath for 22 minutes;[4] this record was achieved in a tank at the London School of Diving with the water cooled to 30 °F (−1 °C).[5] He held this record until 28 February 2016, when it was broken byAleix Segura. In April 2013 inQorlortoq Lake in eastGreenland, he set two new world records for "longest swim under ice - breath held": 500 feet (150 meters) while wearing a wetsuit andmonofin, taking 2 minutes, 11 seconds,[6][7][8] and the following day, 250 feet (76 meters) wearing only swimming trunks.[9][10] He announced that these would be his last record attempts and he would now concentrate on teaching.[2]
In 2020, Severinsen came back from retirement to break another record. He swam 202 meters on a single breath at La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico on 26 November 2020.[11]
Severinsen was chosen "The Ultimate Superhuman" on theDiscovery Channel programmeSuperhuman Showdown, and a documentary about him,Stig Severinsen: The Man Who Doesn't Breathe, was produced for broadcast on Discovery and onQuest in the UK in October 2013.[8][9][10][12]
InBreatheology Severinsen proposes that through working with the breath, a link can be created between body and mind that enables a person to controlstress, increase energy, perform better physically and mentally, alleviate pain and improve health.
| Date | Record | Discipline | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 July 2003 | 166 m | Dynamic Apnea without fins (DNF) | Aarhus, Denmark[13] |
| 28 Sept 2003 | 61 m | Constant Weight without fins (CNF) | Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela |
| 16 June 2007 | 225 m | Dynamic Apnea (DYF) | Aarhus, Denmark |
| 7 July 2007 | 186 m | Dynamic Apnea without fins (DNF) | Maribor, Slovenia |
| Discipline | Result | Accreditation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | STA | 8:40min | AIDA |
| STA O2 | 22:00min | Guinness | |
| Distance | DNF | 186m | AIDA |
| DYN | 225m | AIDA | |
| DYNunder ice | 152.4m | Guinness | |
| Depth | CNF | 61m | AIDA |
| CWT | 64m | AIDA | |
| FIM | 56m | AIDA | |
