ABOUT
MY CORE VALUES
MOTIVATION
Freediving is my passion, my superpower, and a way of life. It inspires me to become a better person by deepening my self-awareness and mastering my mind and body with each dive. Each experience offers a chance to be fully present in the moment.
The true artistry lies in applying these skills and insights to my daily life.
ADVENTURE
Circumnavigated Australia with my family.
In 2022 we embarked on a one-year long adventure, circumnavigating Australia with my family in a homemade, purpose-built camper trailer. Adventure is all about embracing the thrill of the unknown, and that’s exactly what we did.
Picture this: a year of living and cooking outdoors, relying on just two rooftop tents for shelter. We traveled over 32,948 kilometers, enjoying 158 nights of wild camping with our three kids under the age of 10. It was a true adventure, and I’m so grateful for my amazing, hands-on husband who made it all possible!
After all, the best things in life are shared.Â
The sparkle in your eyes which shows up when you do, what you love, becomes a starting point to a grand carnival of your life.”
Hiral Nagda
DETERMINATION
Set a Guinness World Record -Â "My only competition is who I was yesterday"
I’ve been wearing a bracelet with these words for a long time. It serves as a constant reminder that I’m comparing myself to myself, not to anyone else. Every day is an opportunity to improve. If you’re not moving forward, you’re moving backward, because nothing ever stays the same.
Determination is my commitment to reaching my goals, fueled by resilience, a bit of grit, and a splash of softness that I'm learning to cultivate.
Â
AUTHENTICITY
“Be yourself, everyone else is already taken”. Oscar Wilde
When I was younger, I often felt like I wasn't enough. Today, I embrace the truth that I am more than enough, and I give myself permission to be my authentic self. Once we allow ourselves to flourish, incredible things begin to happen. The path unfolds, guiding us toward our purpose, and that is truly beautiful.
ABOUT MICHAELA
I'm on a mission to be the best athlete and freediving coach that I can be.
From my early days as a competitive swimmer in Slovakia to chasing my dream of an ocean lifestyle in Australia at 19, I've always opted for a life filled with adventure, where the ocean has remained my constant companion.
My journey took an unexpected turn in 2009 when, struggling with scuba equalisation, I discovered freediving. Since then, I've never looked back, leaving scuba tanks behind.
In 2016, I became one of Australia's first freediving instructors under the guidance of World Champion Erez Beatus.
Fueled by a burning desire to see how far I can dive on a single breath, I sought mentorship from the renowned "Coach of the Champions," Martin Zajac. Amidst Covid lockdowns, I unearthed unconventional training methods, achieving personal best dives in all pool disciplined and deepened my understanding of mental training.
In November 2023, I set a new Guinness World Record by completing 101 laps of 25 meters each in underwater breaststroke (DNF - Dynamic No Fins) within one hour.
I look forward to competing both in depth and in the pool in 2025.
Everything I teach is grounded in my personal experience.
Dare to dream, work hard and what’s impossible today, tomorrow may become a reality
Michaela Werner
| Year | Freediving Timeline |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Discovered Freediving |
| 2010 | Organised the first Freediving pool Competition in Australia |
| 2016 | Became Freediving Instructor |
| 2023 | Became AIDA Judge |
| 2023 | Became Guinness WR Holder (Greatest Distance Underwater Swimming in 1h) |
PERSONAL BESTS IN POOL
| DNF laps / 1 hour (Guinness WR) | 101 x 25m |
| DNF (Dynamic No Fins) | 150m |
| DYN (Dynamic with Monofin) | 200m |
| DYNB (Dynamic with Bifins) | 175m |
| STA (Static) | 6:08 |
PERSONAL BESTS INÂ DEPTH
| CNF (Constant Weight No Fins) | 45m |
| FIM (Free Immersion) | 50m |
| VWT (Variable Weight) | 45m |
| CWT (Constant Weight) | 40m |
I achieved these depth results during a month of training in Egypt in May 2024. For the first time, I was able to fully dedicate myself to depth training. More important than the numbers was the joy I felt after my deepest dives—surfacing with a huge smile and sometimes even tears of happiness in my eyes.
My dream was to see The Arch in the Blue Hole, and I’ve accomplished that!
There is still so much deeper to explore and so much more to learn and experience.
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BLOG
HOW THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE AFFECTS FREEDIVING TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE
TRAINING
03. September 2024
Freediving is a demanding sport that requires peak physical and mental performance. When I began preparing for more serious freediving in the pool in 2020...
WATER SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR YOUR CHILD?
FUN
12. August 2024
Recently, a conversation on social media got me thinking about how we teach our children to interact with water, especially in the context of survival skills. As a professional freediver and a...
Active Recovery: Nourishing the Soul
POOL
15. July 2023
Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.
Recognizing the essence of this quote, I make it a point to reward myself.....
