Vitomir Maricic, a Croatian freediver, has set a new world record by holding his breath underwater for 29 minutes and three seconds in a pool at the Bristol Hotel in Opatija. This feat, performed in front of spectators and judges, surpassed the previous record by nearly five minutes and earned Maricic a place in the Guinness World Records. The achievement was made possible by breathing pure oxygen for ten minutes before submerging, a technique that dramatically increases the body's oxygen reserves.

Despite the use of pure oxygen, Maricic's accomplishment required extraordinary physical and mental control, developed through years of rigorous training. Freedivers must learn to tolerate the distress signals triggered by rising carbon dioxide levels, using meditation, relaxation, and specialized breathing techniques to suppress the urge to surface. Maricic described the experience as a battle of willpower, especially as severe diaphragm contractions set in after twenty minutes underwater.

Maricic is no stranger to pushing boundaries, holding additional records for underwater walking, backflips, and squats with heavy weights. He now plans to attempt a dive to 160 meters, aiming to break the current variable weight freediving record. For Maricic, freediving is not just a test of physical endurance but a journey into the depths of self-control and mental resilience.