Umberto Pelizzari Italian freediver Date of Birth: 28.08.1965 Country: Italy

1. Biography of Umberto Pelizzari
2. Early Life and Career
3. Record-breaking Achievements
4. Later Career and Contributions

Biography of Umberto Pelizzari

Umberto Pelizzari, an Italian freediver, is considered one of the best, if not the best, freedivers of our time. He holds all the current world records in all disciplines of freediving.

Early Life and Career

Umberto Pelizzari was born on August 28, 1965, in Busto Arsizio, a large city in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. He started his professional swimming career at the age of five and had already completed 11 professional seasons by the age of 17. At 19, he began practicing freediving.

Pelizzari stands at 189 cm tall, weighs 84 kg, and has a lung capacity of 7.9 liters.

Record-breaking Achievements

In 1990, Umberto set a world record in the respected discipline of constant weight by diving to 65 meters. The following year, he set a record in the variable weight discipline, reaching a depth of 95 meters. On October 26 of the same year, he descended to 118 meters, setting a new world record in the no limits discipline, the deepest of all.

Throughout the 1990s, Pelizzari engaged in a competitive rivalry with Francisco 'Pipin' Ferreras, a Cuban freediving legend. They pushed each other to dive deeper and deeper in the no limits discipline. Eventually, Pelizzari reached a depth of 150 meters in no limits and 80 meters in constant weight, setting both records at the same event in October 1999.

Later Career and Contributions

The rivalry between Pelizzari and Ferreras led to the creation of the documentary film "Ocean Men: Extreme Dive" in 2001, directed by renowned underwater photographer Bob Talbot.

In 1994, Pelizzari was one of the initiators of the Italian national division of the International Association for the Development of Apnea (AIDA). He became a two-time world champion with the Italian team in 1996 and 2001.

In 2001, Pelizzari concluded his competitive career by setting another record in the variable weight discipline, reaching a depth of 131 meters.

Currently, Pelizzari teaches at the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, a part of the University of Pisa. He also works as a television presenter, journalist, and reporter for various programs related to marine topics.

Pelizzari founded the respected Apnea Academy freediving school and co-wrote the bestselling book "Manual of Freediving" with his former coach, Stefano Tovaglieri.