Heike Schwerdtner Makes History (Again) with NEW Static Apnea World Record

Some world records are celebrated with roaring crowds and raised fists; others happen in complete silence.

By Zowie Palliaer

Heike Schwerdtner continues to dominate in women’s static apnea, breaking her previous world record breath-hold of 9 minutes and 30 seconds. Photo © @camibentosphotos for @aidafreediving.

At the AIDA World Apnea 2026 Pool Championships in Budapest, Molchanovs Athlete Heike Schwerdtner floated motionless on the surface of the water, eyes closed, while the clock continued to climb.

Nine minutes. Nine minutes and thirty seconds. Her previous record now behind her.

And finally, 9:39.

With a single breath, Schwerdtner set a new Static Apnea World Record, extending the benchmark she has steadily raised over the past two years and further cementing her top status in Static Apnea.

But for Schwerdtner, the moment wasn't about chasing history. It was about something much simpler.

In her post-performance interview, Schwerdtner revealed, “I wasn't actually aiming for the world record. I just wanted to do a good nine-minute static.”

A Decade in the Making

The achievement was anything but an overnight success.

"I've been freediving for about 10 years now," Schwerdtner told event organisers. "I've been training static apnea regularly for around 10 years, and I wanted to improve every year."

Although she had been a swimmer as a child, Schwerdtner didn't seriously explore the world of freediving until she began training in 2015. From then on, she was hooked. 

Despite raising her son as a single mother, working full-time as a teacher for nursing students, and caring for her mother with dementia, she always found time for freediving.

She entered her first competitions in 2017.

Seven years later, at 54 years old, she broke Natalia Molchanova's legendary 9:02 Static Apnea world record — a mark that had stood for more than eleven years. Since then, she has continued to redefine the discipline, setting an incredible five Static Apnea world records. 

The result in Budapest wasn't the product of a single extraordinary day. It was the culmination of years of consistency, patience, and trusting the process.

History in the making, Heike Schwerdtner makes pushing human limits look easy. Photo © @effiesnapsshots for @aidafreediving.

The Discipline That Feels Like Home

Static Apnea asks athletes to do almost nothing. Floating face down on the surface, they simply hold their breath for as long as possible.

But beneath that stillness is an intense mental battle. For Schwerdtner, that's exactly what makes it special: “It's the discipline where I can truly be completely calm within myself.”

While dynamic events are measured by distance, Static Apnea rewards the ability to let go of everything except the present moment.

It's a discipline built on relaxation rather than force, and one that perfectly suits Schwerdtner's calm and methodical approach.

A Partnership Built on Trust

One of the most touching moments of Schwerdtner's post-performance interview came when she spoke about the person who makes every competition possible. "My Klaus, my partner, my husband, is watching over me, taking care of me, so to speak."

But Klaus isn't just there to prop her up on competition day. He supports every part of Schwerdtner's journey, creating the conditions that allow her to perform at her best.

Whispered words of encouragement from her coach, husband and biggest supporter, Klaus. Photo © @camibentosphotos for @aidafreediving.

Sometimes that means offering guidance in training or standing poolside as her coach. Other times, it means something much simpler, like taking care of household chores so that she can focus on her training. 

“I try to support her wherever I can. I support her during training, and of course, coach her during competitions when she's delivering her actual performance, the real achievement.”

On competition day, Klaus stood steadfast by her side. "She doesn't have to worry about anything. Everything around her, all the problems that might arise, that's my job. I'm there for her. I'll make sure nothing happens to her so that she can truly just let go, stay relaxed and focus on the dive."

Whether it's supporting her training, taking care of everyday responsibilities leading up to a big competition, or making sure every detail is handled on the day, Klaus creates the space for Schwerdtner to focus on one thing alone: a single breath.

Post-dive euphoria: Heike and husband Klaus celebrate yet another world record under her belt. Photo © @camibentosphotos for @aidafreediving.

More Than a World Record

The world record capped an exceptional championship for the German athlete.

Just one day earlier, Schwerdtner had also set a new German national record in Dynamic Apnea without Fins, proving her versatility across disciplines before returning to her signature event.

By the end of the championships, her performances across multiple disciplines earned her second place overall in the women's standings, securing her status as one of the most historic freediving athletes of our time.

Despite the pressure of performing on the sport's biggest stage, Schwerdtner remained characteristically calm. "I'm speechless. It's incredible. I'm so proud that I managed it today."

Her love for the competition itself is just as evident.

“What I really enjoy is meeting all the international athletes every year, seeing familiar faces again and again, exchanging ideas and, hopefully, meeting them somewhere in the world next year.”

A stopwatch, a white card, and history made… again. Photo © @camibentosphotos for @aidafreediving.

If Schwerdtner's career has shown anything, it's that extraordinary performances aren't built in bursts. They're built one training session, one breath, and one quiet second at a time.

In Budapest, those seconds added up to one of the defining performances of the AIDA World Apnea 2026 Pool Championships.

Want to relive every record, standout performance, and unforgettable moment from Budapest? Read our complete AIDA World Apnea 2026 Pool Championships coverage for daily recaps, full results and athlete stories from one of the biggest freediving events of the year.