A world-champion freediver explains how the body blacks out as a coping mechanism during extreme breath-holds, reaching eight minutes underwater. He discusses managing fear and anxiety under pressure, and describes attempting a world-record dive in northern Europe during winter.
Eight minutes.
July 30, 2024.
You're a world champion Freediver.
Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. It's okay not to be perfect. Blackouts are not good. They don't hurt. You just kind of lose consciousness. Your body learns it as a coping mechanism.
How long can you hold your breath for? At its maximum.
Eight minutes. Man. I hope you've bought your A game today where you want to back out of your challenge. I do this thing that sounds super arrogant. I'm almost embarrassed to explain it to you, James. It leaves me buzzing. Like, genuinely buzzing. I was over in northern Europe in the middle of winter in a very cold location trying to break a new world record.
And when I broke the surface, how did attempt go?
I can't say.
What's the most effective way to actually confront or actually to engage with fear?
This is a difficult one. These things are bloody terrifying.
For me, being fearless is actually about taking positive, calculated risks.
The way I think about how to control my own fear and anxiety is to look.
