Genoni did 18'03" on O2 TODAY!

[spaghetti]

Italian freediving veteran and recordman Gianluca Genoni achieved a 18'03" static breath hold on O2 today, at Goito, Italy.
Genoni and his staff explained this is to be intended as a scientfic experiment for a DAN Europe research, rather than a sport record.
Anyway, it's quite a long breath hold, isn't it?
Kudos, Genoni!
Not many details available so far (it all occured today), other than this article from italian e-zine Apneamagazine (in italian language):
Apnea Magazine - APNEA IN OSSIGENO - TEST SCIENTIFICO CON MIGLIORE PRESTAZIONE MONDIALE: 18'03

 

[hudasmt]

holy 18'03"!!! That is awesome!!! maybe half an hour to 1 hour will not be long. Who will be the first to reach 1 hour? hehehehe...really amazing human achivements!!!

 

[trux]

Looks great, congrats! I hope we'll see the results of their scientific study soon! I am really curious if they found out something new. I am also curious whether Tom Sietas will take it as challenge, or will go on beating just Guinness records

 

[swissdiver]

Genoni and his staff explained this is to be intended as a scientfic experiment for a DAN Europe research, rather than a sport record.

Good attitude

 

[rxcnc2]

I attempt some translation of the italian text... sorry for the poor English
but you should get the meaning... congratulations to Gianluca!

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PRESS RELEASE - This morning in the swimming pool of the Centro Termale(*)
Airone in Goito (Mantova), Gianluca Genoni has established the BEST EVER PERFORMANCE IN STATIC APNEA WITH OXYGEN WITH THE INCREDIBLE RESULT OF 18'03", as measured and certified by the Italian Federation of Sports Timekeepers.

This record was carried out within a framework of medical-scientific tests
related to the physiological study of the vital parameters following
prolonged breath-holding, which Genoni is undergoing in order to help
DAN Europe researchers to identify some still unknown mechamisms in
the human body.

G. Genoni's physical and mental response, in the early phases of the specific training, had led to speculations about a barrier in breathhold times around 15 minutes. However, the unrelenting training and the
confidence in the signals from his own body permitted Genoni to increase
gradually the breathhold times, coming close to the record in the
previous days, when the presence of the support staff from the
DAN Europe researchers allowed attempting more demanding times with the highest degree of safety.

Safety during apnea(**) has always been a top priority of Gianluca's
during all of his numerous world record's preparations, permitting him
to increase the achieved depths without too much risk.

Today's achievement has a double meaning for Gianluca, in addition to
winning his n-th challenge, it brings this record back in the hands of
a "pure apneist"(***), given that the previous record of 17'04" had
ended up in the hands of the british magician David Blaine who had
transformed breathholding in a rather spectacular and not very sport-like
activity.

"I am very happy" - Genoni stated at the end of the experiment -
"because this time I had really feared that I would not be able to
make it and instead one more time I found inside myself the
strength that allowed me to go on. As for the pure disciplines of
apnea also this one, even if non-standard, has demanded a
mental strength that I did not any longer believe I had. I found it
again thanks to the persons who are close to me and that helped
me believing."

My notes:

(*) Thermal spa, at least the water must have been warm

(**) this word includes both breathholding and diving

(***) this may be too literal but you get it...