While the ALS Ice bucket Challenge dominated trends nearly a decade ago, cryotherapy has now emerged as a vital component of professional athlete recovery. Extreme cold temperatures aid significantly in alleviating body fatigue, a necessity for high-level athletes. However, none of them could do what Lucasz Szpunar from Poland did to enter the Guinness World Records. Lucasz achieved the longest duration of full-body ice contact, enduring immersion in a tank filled with ice for an astounding 4 hours and 2 minutes — a remarkable feat considering most of us cannot keep an ice pack for longer than a few minutes. Check out Szpunar’s record on Guinness World Records and find out how long you could last in an ice bath, let alone fully submerged in ice.
A 53-year-old adventurer from Poland has secured his place in the Guinness Book of World Records after enduring over four hours submerged in a box of ice. Lukasz Szpunar’s remarkable feat, lasting precisely 4 hours and 2 minutes, marked the longest period of full-body contact with ice recorded to date.
Szpunar’s courageous achievement, where he remained fully immersed in ice while wearing only swimming trunks, surpassed the previous record by an impressive 50 minutes. The intrepid explorer kept all body parts except his head and neck submerged, employing a mouthguard to protect his teeth from the frigid conditions. Despite initial discomfort, Szpunar’s resolve prevailed as he pushed through the challenging ordeal. Safety officials monitored his body temperature and consciousness throughout the attempt, eventually deciding to conclude the record-setting event at the four-hour mark due to safety considerations.
Speaking about his motivation, Szpunar revealed his admiration for cold-exposure enthusiasts, affectionately known as ‘walruses’. He explained, “Because of my love for the cold, I wanted to test myself this time by sitting in the ice itself.”
Szpunar’s affinity for extreme challenges is well-documented. He previously clinched second place at the Polish Walrus Championships by enduring over four hours in near-freezing water. Additionally, Szpunar has conquered four of Poland’s highest mountain summits clad only in shorts
The record for prolonged ice contact has been tracked since 2000, when athlete Wim Hof achieved 30 minutes. Notably, Poland has emerged as a dominant force in this arena, producing the last three male record holders alongside the previous female record holder.
Szpunar’s daring escapades extend beyond personal achievements. He co-organizes the ‘Lake of Angels’ initiative, where participants, known as walruses, take a monthly dawn swim in Lake Tarnobrzeg to support the House of Angels Hospice for children with cancer.
