Joska Salek holds the Guinness World Record for the longest abdominal plank ever held by a man — 9 hours, 38 minutes, 47 seconds. Michaela Werner swam 2.5 kilometres underwater in one hour, accumulating over 42 minutes submerged. No fins. Both hold multiple Guinness World Records. This is their only Newcastle event.
Meet your facilitators
Joska Salek
Joska holds three Guinness World Records: the longest abdominal plank ever held by a man (9 hours, 38 minutes, 47 seconds), a barefoot half marathon completed on snow and ice in sub-zero conditions (1:50:42), and a weighted plank with 18kg on his back (1:25:02). He began this chapter of his life at 48, rebuilding from a place of genuine difficulty. He now works with individuals and organisations across Europe on mental resilience, stress management, and what becomes possible when the mind stops negotiating with discomfort.
Michaela Werner
Michaela is a Newcastle-based freediving athlete, coach, and Guinness World Record holder. In 2023 she swam 101 × 25m laps underwater — no fins, just body and breath — in under one hour, accumulating over 42 minutes submerged. In 2025 she led a team of nine elite freedivers to cover 98 kilometres in 24 hours. With over 16 years in the water and a decade dedicated to Dynamic No Fins freediving, she teaches the same qualities that her sport demands: presence, economy, and an honest relationship with the breath under pressure.