Martin Štepánek
Encyclopedia
Martin Štěpánek is a world class free-diver
and record-holder.
From 1984 to 1997 he was a competitive monofin
swimmer (finswimmer) (distances 50m and 100m). Martin's academic background follows a degree in Forestry Engineering with advanced studies in Sports Biology at the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. After moving to the United States he became USA Certified as a Deep Sea and Saturation Commercial Diver in May 1999. In 2000 Martin met Douglas Peterson, who went on to become his freediving coach and mentor, guiding him to his first World Record in July 2001. Since then, Martin has continued to set freediving world records annually up to the present day. He is now recognized as one of the pioneers of modern freediving education.
Martin was on hand during David Blaine
's "Drowned Alive" stunt in Lincoln Center in May 2006. Blaine was attempting to hold his breath
(known as "apnea") long enough to break the current world record of eight minutes, fifty-eight seconds. Martin, along with fellow freediver Mandy-Rae Cruickshank
, dove into the tank to assist Blaine after the attempt failed.
On March 1, 2007 Martin announced his resignation from Performance Freediving sports team, and on March 16, 2007 announced the formation of freediving education agency, headquartered out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In May 2009, utilizing only his monofin for propulsion, Martin became the first man to dive over 400 feet on a single breath of air.
On May 23, 2011 Martin announced he will attempt to break all three current depth freediving World Records at his upcoming event. Due to an inner ear problem, the dive was cut short at 90 meters ( the current record to beat was 125 meters). Martin decided that he would cancel further record breaking dive attempts until he received a more detailed medical examination.
On August 6, 2011, Martin married his partner and fellow freediver, Niki Roderick.
Free-diving
Freediving is any of various aquatic activities that share the practice of breath-hold underwater diving. Examples include breathhold spear fishing, freedive photography, apnea competitions and, to a degree, snorkeling...
and record-holder.
From 1984 to 1997 he was a competitive monofin
Monofin
A monofin is a type of swimfin typically used in finswimming and free-diving. It consists of a single surface attached to footpockets for both of the free-diver's feet.-History and production:...
swimmer (finswimmer) (distances 50m and 100m). Martin's academic background follows a degree in Forestry Engineering with advanced studies in Sports Biology at the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. After moving to the United States he became USA Certified as a Deep Sea and Saturation Commercial Diver in May 1999. In 2000 Martin met Douglas Peterson, who went on to become his freediving coach and mentor, guiding him to his first World Record in July 2001. Since then, Martin has continued to set freediving world records annually up to the present day. He is now recognized as one of the pioneers of modern freediving education.
Martin was on hand during David Blaine
David Blaine
David Blaine is an American illusionist and endurance artist. He is best known for his high-profile feats of endurance, and has made his name as a performer of street and close-up magic. He has set and broken several world records...
's "Drowned Alive" stunt in Lincoln Center in May 2006. Blaine was attempting to hold his breath
Apnea
Apnea, apnoea, or apnœa is a term for suspension of external breathing. During apnea there is no movement of the muscles of respiration and the volume of the lungs initially remains unchanged...
(known as "apnea") long enough to break the current world record of eight minutes, fifty-eight seconds. Martin, along with fellow freediver Mandy-Rae Cruickshank
Mandy-Rae Cruickshank
Mandy-Rae Cruickshank is a world champion free-diver and record-holder from Vancouver, British Columbia.Cruickshank holds several Canadian and world records. She set the women's world record for constant ballast by diving to a depth of 88 metres on one breath, in April 2007 in the Cayman Islands...
, dove into the tank to assist Blaine after the attempt failed.
On March 1, 2007 Martin announced his resignation from Performance Freediving sports team, and on March 16, 2007 announced the formation of freediving education agency, headquartered out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In May 2009, utilizing only his monofin for propulsion, Martin became the first man to dive over 400 feet on a single breath of air.
On May 23, 2011 Martin announced he will attempt to break all three current depth freediving World Records at his upcoming event. Due to an inner ear problem, the dive was cut short at 90 meters ( the current record to beat was 125 meters). Martin decided that he would cancel further record breaking dive attempts until he received a more detailed medical examination.
On August 6, 2011, Martin married his partner and fellow freediver, Niki Roderick.
Official World Records by Martin Štěpánek
| Apnea Apnea Apnea, apnoea, or apnœa is a term for suspension of external breathing. During apnea there is no movement of the muscles of respiration and the volume of the lungs initially remains unchanged... | Record | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIM Free Immersion Free Immersion is a AIDA International freediving discipline in which the freediver dives under water without the use of propulsion equipment, but only by pulling on the rope during descent and ascent.... |
110 m | 23 May 2009 | Sharm Sharm el-Sheikh Sharm el-Sheikh is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, on the coastal strip along the Red Sea. Its population is approximately 35,000... (Egypt) |
| CWT Constant Weight Constant Weight is an AIDA freediving discipline in which the freediver descends and ascends using his fins/monofin and/or with the use of his arms without pulling on the rope or changing his ballast; only a single hold of the rope to stop the descent and start the ascent is allowed... |
122 m | 22 May 2009 | Sharm Sharm el-Sheikh Sharm el-Sheikh is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, on the coastal strip along the Red Sea. Its population is approximately 35,000... (Egypt) |
| FIM | 108 m | 5 April 2006 | Cayman Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica... (BWI) |
| FIM | 106 m | 3 April 2006 | Cayman Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica... (BWI) |
| CWT | 106 m | 1 April 2006 | Cayman Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica... (BWI) |
| VWT Free-diving Freediving is any of various aquatic activities that share the practice of breath-hold underwater diving. Examples include breathhold spear fishing, freedive photography, apnea competitions and, to a degree, snorkeling... |
136 m | 14 April 2005 | Cayman Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica... (BWI) |
| CNF | 80 m | 9 April 2005 | Cayman Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica... (BWI) |
| CWT | 103 m | 10 September 2004 | Spetses Spetses Spetses is an island and a municipality in the Islands regional unit, Attica, Greece. It is sometimes included as one of the Saronic Islands. Until 1948, it was part of the old prefecture of Argolidocorinthia, which is now split into Argolis and Corinthia... (Greece) |
| FIM | 102 m | 3 Mars 2004 | Cayman Cayman Islands The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica... (BWI) |
| CWT | 93 m | 29 May 2003 | Limassol Limassol Limassol is the second-largest city in Cyprus, with a population of 228,000 . It is the largest city in geographical size, and the biggest municipality on the island. The city is located on Akrotiri Bay, on the island's southern coast and it is the capital of Limassol District.Limassol is the... (Cyprus) |
| FIM | 90 m | 8 September 2001 | Miami (USA) |
| STA Static Apnea Static Apnea is an AIDA International discipline in which the freedivers hold their breath for as long as possible with their respiratory tracts immersed, their body either in the water or at the surface... |
8 min 6 sec | 3 July 2001 | Miami (USA) |
| STA | 7 min 47 sec | 1 July 2001 | Miami (USA) |