The International Sports Hall of Fame stands out from other honors because they not only recognize champions of the field, court, or stage. They also honor champions of causes and advocacy. Vitomir Maričić is an athlete who embodies being both the best in the world for his sport and best for the world when it comes to his causes.
Maričić’s induction at the 2026 Olympia Weekend in Las Vegas, NV alongside Dexter Jackson, Forrest Griffin, the Harlem Globetrotters, and Garry Kasparov will be for more than his world-record breath hold underwater and his world championship free diving efforts. He will also be celebrated for what he is most passionate about; making a difference.
“That made me feel really proud because I will finally receive an award that encompasses everything I do,” he said. “I value this award because it is about more than results.”
Who Is Vitomir Maričić & Why Is He Being Inducted into the ISHOF?
A person being able to hold their breath for three minutes or longer is considered impressive by most standards. Approaching 10 minutes puts someone in an elite category with the world. Maričić holds the world record for longest time holding breath underwater with a staggering 29 minutes, 3.07 seconds.
Ever since he was three years old growing up in a coastal town in Croatia or when he was with his grandparents in Thailand, Maričić has loved the water, sharing that all of his childhood memories are connected to the beach or ocean. Maričić took part in several sports during his childhood, but he seems to be as comfortable in water as people are on land and even recalled holding his own in a variety of competitions against adult spear fishermen when his age was still in the single digits.
Most people would assume that meant he loved swimming, and he did swim for teams in school, but Maričić said he was always naturally more dense and anaerobically talented. In other words, he seemed to thrive going to depths most would not even consider..
“It’s much easier when my head is underwater and I hold my breath. While other people prioritized breathing rapidly, I prioritized holding my breath.”
His self-awareness combined with his commitment to pushing himself to new standards of excellence were key in his development and success in the sport of free diving. Maričić enjoyed it before he even knew it was an organized sport, calling it deep diving in his younger years. Once he saw free diving on television, he shaped his dream and immediately started pursuing it. Growing up poor meant he wouldn’t have access to the equipment he needed, but instead of letting that deter him, he turned it into a step in his process.
“For me, this dream was like someone dreaming of being an astronaut.”
Free diving was growing as Maričić got older, but it was still a novel concept at best. Unless it was a world record attempt, it received no mainstream attention. Once he started formally competing, he committed himself to not only being the best in it but helping grow it so others could join him.
“Back when I started, the sport was completely undeveloped. There were no championships or anything.”
That changed over the course of his career, and Maričić quickly established himself as the premiere athlete of his sport. By the end of his first competitive season, he was ranked fourth out of all European competitors. After that, he secured his first world championship medal in Belgrade, Serbia. By the end of 2019, he scored three world records and was ranked number 1 in the Association Internationale pour le Développement de l’Apnée (AIDA, translated to International Association for the Development of Apnea) rankings.
Maričić has thrived in various sports such as climbing, Olympic lifting and triathlons, but his most famous feats are those underwater, such as his 107-meter walk with one breath, dives under ice, and he has even squatted 300 kilograms (661 pounds) while under water, also a world record. His legacy is cemented thanks to his world record breath hold, which he intends to extend to 30 minutes, and he hopes to also include a new depth record of 160 meters. Most importantly to him, Maričić is also proud of how much free diving has grown internationally since he entered it.
“The sport has evolved a lot.”
Champion For Climate and Ocean Protection
When Maričić is not in the water, he is participating in research or coaching other athletes to do what he has done and more. As an instructor and coach, he has played a key role in the advancement of numerous competitors. He specifically highlighted Petar Klovar, who is not only his partner during dives but has also become his main rival. Deep divers need a partner with them for safety, and Klovar is the only one who can potentially reach the depths that Maričić pursues.
The combination of needing someone who is trying to beat you is a dynamic that makes the sport so interesting. The friendly rivalry that has developed between the two is a positive example that Maričić hopes others can embrace and follow because it will be key to help the sport continue growing.
Maričić explained, “In free diving, it’s very hard to find that kind of community where you want the best for yourself and your competition. Most athletes have difficulty coming to peace with this. I am very proud of Petar’s achievements and his work.”
Maričić also trains other coaches who can help the next generation of champions or even help people who are intrigued and want to chase their own personal free diving goals.
“Whether it’s for sport, business, or anything, they can come to us, and it has been very successful and is now an even bigger passion than my own results.”
Maričić also devotes himself to protecting the oceans. As an advocate for conservation, he speaks out against marine poaching and pollution. According to Maričić, it has become a much larger issue than people realize.
“I need to draw attention to this because it is the biggest and most imminent threat to the ecosystem of Earth, and most people don’t realize it.”
That is why he has partnered with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a nonprofit focused on preserving and protecting wildlife in the world’s oceans. According to their mission, Sea Shepherd uses “innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and confront illegal activities on the high seas, protecting ecosystems and species for future generations.” Maričić acknowledged that a group that did more than protest mattered to him, which is why he aligned himself with Sea Shepherd.
“I can really trust and have faith in them to do things right and not waste time. They are actually a hands-on organization that will go into the ocean to protect wildlife and speak to lawmakers to help change laws to protect them.”
When Maričić accepts his gold medal and stands in front of the cameras and microphone as the newest ISHOF inductee, he will not see it as a culmination or a conclusion of a journey. Rather, it will serve as reinforcement and a time to renew his commitment to help change his sport and the world.
“I am already thinking about the next steps to take for free diving and how that will be my lasting touch on the sport. That and my work with ocean conservation is now my main focus.”
To learn more about Maričić and his efforts, go to his website.
The 2026 ISHOF induction ceremony will be held in the Palms Casino Resort Grand Ballroom in Las Vegas on Saturday, September 26, starting at 12:30 PM Pacific time. The induction ceremony is open for the public to attend. You can learn more about the ISHOF by going to ishof.net.