Free diver takes stroll on bottom of pool to break a record while holding his breath

A freediver took a stroll at the bottom of a swimming pool to break an impressive underwater record.

Stanisław Odbieżałek (Poland) took the longest underwater walk with one breath (male) when he travelled 110.70 m (363.18 ft).

That’s further than the length of an American football field (109.7 m; 360 ft).

He broke the record in Kongsberg, Norway, on 24 June to test the limits of what he thought was possible, surpassing the previous record of 107 m (351 ft 0.5 in) achieved by Vitomir Maričić (Croatia).

He told us: “I think I like challenges above all. I’ve been free diving for what seems like 50 years, and I enjoy trying anything related to water.

“I think this won’t be my last attempt at this record. I think I’ll beat myself later.”

His technique was walking bent at the hips so that his torso was as horizontal as possible.

He also held his hands together in front of his body to decrease resistance.

He walked back and forward as many times as he could, using his hands to push off the sides of the pool every time he reached the edge.

Stanisław admits the whole thing is tough on him mentally.

He said: “Stress accompanies me, those last two or three minutes before going underwater are always accompanied by very high stress.

“Of course, I have done that earlier many times, and yet the stress is there.

“But stress is also accompanied by focus and concentration, a certain kind of concentration.

“After going underwater, I can cope with this stress.”

He said that once he’s under the water, his stress is replaced by concentration.

Sitting on the edge of the pool before jumping in is actually the hardest bit for him.

A scuba diver was under the water with him the whole time to ensure his safety and to capture his attempt on film.

And when he could no longer hold his breath, Stanisław pushed up to the surface, holding his hand up in the universal signal for “ok”.

He said all his stress “melted away” the moment he realized he had broken the world record.

The longest underwater walk with one breath (female) is 112.83 m (370 ft 2 in), and was achieved by Amber Bourke (Australia).