David Blaine"s World Record - Show Recap
Original Air Date:
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
David Blaine - Current World Record:
David Blaine used the Oprah show for the latest of his "endurance art" stunts - setting the world record for holding your breath under water. The record David aimed to beat was 16:32 minutes, held by a man in Switzerland that was set in February of 2008. David's past stunts include being buried alive, standing in a block of ice, balancing on a 90ft pillar, starving for 40 days and living underwater.
David Blaine - Why This World Record?:
Oprah sat down to talk to David to ask him about breaking the world record. David shared that as a child in Brooklyn, he was on the swim team and was very competitive. David realized that he could win if he didn't come up for air during the competition. As a magician, David has also been inspired by Houdini; and even though David is a magician, his "endurance art" performances do not include enhancements, cheating or illusions.
David Blaine - Preparing to Break the World Record:
On the show, David entered his sphere and started to take in pure oxygen for a timed 23 minutes to prepare his body to not take in any air for over 16 minutes. David's doctor shared that when he began the time to break the record, David was anxious and it showed in his heart rate. The team agreed that they would only pull David out if his heart rate reached 10 beats per minute.
David performed his stunt in a sphere that is 8 feet in diameter, holds 1800 gallons of water, and weighs 20,000 pounds.
The sphere is build with 2 inch this acrylic and cost $200,000.
David Blaine - Training for the World Record:
During the time preparing and actually competing for the record, Oprah aired clips from her interview with David and also information on how he trained for the death-defying stunt. David trained like an elite athlete eating many small meals a day and running 5 days per week. With the addition of weight training, David lost 40 pounds during his 4 months of training. The purpose of the lean mass is that the less mass his body has, the less oxygen he needs. David also trained with free divers in the Cayman Islands and slept in a tent that was the equivalent of sleeping at 15,000 feet.
David Blaine - Risks of Competing for the World Record:
David's doctor explained the risk of performing such a stunt, which is why no one should try this on their own. Among the risks include cardiac arrest, heart attack, stroke, loss of consciousness, lung damage, brain damage, or even death.
David explained that he doesn't have a death wish for performing the stunts, but quite the opposite. Even though there are a lot of risks involved, David expressed that it is an interest in knowing what the human body is capable of, and studying it.
David Blaine - Competing for the Record:
When David started the time for the record, he did what his doctor called lung packing where he expanded his lung capacity, even if it's dangerous. For David to hold his breath for such a long period of time, he needed to go to another state of consciousness and work to separate his mind from his body. During the process, David's heart rate was higher than during his training and it was brought up whether he would be able to complete his task.
Through the challenges, David succeeded in beating the record and living out his lifelong dream. David set the new world record at 17:04.04 minutes!
David Blaine - After Setting the New World Record:
After coming up from setting the new world record, David Blaine said that he felt great and that it was an intense experience and he doubted that he would be able to do it because he was aware of his irregular heart beat at the end.
David said that he tried to separate his mind and body, but that it was a challenge with the environment of the show. Normally free floating, David expressed that the set up of the stunt was different than his normal environment during training. David was thrilled to live out his lifelong dream.
David Blaine's Next Challenge:
Oprah asked what David would try to accomplish next and he shared that he would like to stay awake longer than anyone ever has - 1 million seconds, or over 11 days. David expressed that he is fearful of the idea because when he stood in the block of ice awake he began to hallucinate, and it was both beautiful and terrifying. The longest David has ever stayed awake is 5 days so his next challenge is sure to be a big one.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
David Blaine - Current World Record:
David Blaine used the Oprah show for the latest of his "endurance art" stunts - setting the world record for holding your breath under water. The record David aimed to beat was 16:32 minutes, held by a man in Switzerland that was set in February of 2008. David's past stunts include being buried alive, standing in a block of ice, balancing on a 90ft pillar, starving for 40 days and living underwater.
David Blaine - Why This World Record?:
Oprah sat down to talk to David to ask him about breaking the world record. David shared that as a child in Brooklyn, he was on the swim team and was very competitive. David realized that he could win if he didn't come up for air during the competition. As a magician, David has also been inspired by Houdini; and even though David is a magician, his "endurance art" performances do not include enhancements, cheating or illusions.
David Blaine - Preparing to Break the World Record:
On the show, David entered his sphere and started to take in pure oxygen for a timed 23 minutes to prepare his body to not take in any air for over 16 minutes. David's doctor shared that when he began the time to break the record, David was anxious and it showed in his heart rate. The team agreed that they would only pull David out if his heart rate reached 10 beats per minute.
David performed his stunt in a sphere that is 8 feet in diameter, holds 1800 gallons of water, and weighs 20,000 pounds.
The sphere is build with 2 inch this acrylic and cost $200,000.
David Blaine - Training for the World Record:
During the time preparing and actually competing for the record, Oprah aired clips from her interview with David and also information on how he trained for the death-defying stunt. David trained like an elite athlete eating many small meals a day and running 5 days per week. With the addition of weight training, David lost 40 pounds during his 4 months of training. The purpose of the lean mass is that the less mass his body has, the less oxygen he needs. David also trained with free divers in the Cayman Islands and slept in a tent that was the equivalent of sleeping at 15,000 feet.
David Blaine - Risks of Competing for the World Record:
David's doctor explained the risk of performing such a stunt, which is why no one should try this on their own. Among the risks include cardiac arrest, heart attack, stroke, loss of consciousness, lung damage, brain damage, or even death.
David explained that he doesn't have a death wish for performing the stunts, but quite the opposite. Even though there are a lot of risks involved, David expressed that it is an interest in knowing what the human body is capable of, and studying it.
David Blaine - Competing for the Record:
When David started the time for the record, he did what his doctor called lung packing where he expanded his lung capacity, even if it's dangerous. For David to hold his breath for such a long period of time, he needed to go to another state of consciousness and work to separate his mind from his body. During the process, David's heart rate was higher than during his training and it was brought up whether he would be able to complete his task.
Through the challenges, David succeeded in beating the record and living out his lifelong dream. David set the new world record at 17:04.04 minutes!
David Blaine - After Setting the New World Record:
After coming up from setting the new world record, David Blaine said that he felt great and that it was an intense experience and he doubted that he would be able to do it because he was aware of his irregular heart beat at the end.
David said that he tried to separate his mind and body, but that it was a challenge with the environment of the show. Normally free floating, David expressed that the set up of the stunt was different than his normal environment during training. David was thrilled to live out his lifelong dream.
David Blaine's Next Challenge:
Oprah asked what David would try to accomplish next and he shared that he would like to stay awake longer than anyone ever has - 1 million seconds, or over 11 days. David expressed that he is fearful of the idea because when he stood in the block of ice awake he began to hallucinate, and it was both beautiful and terrifying. The longest David has ever stayed awake is 5 days so his next challenge is sure to be a big one.