Stig Severinsen

Stig Severinsen is a four-time freediving world champion and holds a doctoral degree in medicine. He is founder of Breatheology®, and author of Breatheology: The Art of Conscious Breathing. He combines a knowledge of yoga, physiology, and peak performance in sports to rasie awareness of the true power of breath and breath holding.

On April 1st, 2010, Severinsen became the first person in the world to hold his breath for over 20 minutes when he set an official Guinness World Record of 20 minutes and 10 seconds in a shark tank in Denmark. 

In May 2012, he improved his performance to the current official Guinness World Record of 22 minutes during a live attempt in London on Superhuman Showdown for Discovery Channel. He won the show and was awarded the title “The Ultimate Superhuman”. 

Always pushing the limits of human physiology and psychology, his latest two Guinness World Records were set during the filming of the documentary series The Man Who Doesn’t Breathe (Discovery Channel), when he also swam 500 feet (in a wetsuit) and 250 feet (in a speedo) under the ice in Greenland—all on a single breath of air. 

He collaborates with leading scientists from around the world to unlock new secrets on the human body and mind in order the use the results on a broader scale in prevention, rehabilitation, and treatment in various health scenarios (stress, illness, accidents etc.) as well as to optimize sports and business performance. 

Severinsen also works as a coach and consultant to Olympian athletes, military personnel, and CEOs of large corporations and is focused on making his teaching and techniques available to the world through online and live programs.