Mike Marić

A dentist and orthodontic specialist, after earning a Master of Science, he earned a Ph.D. and then became a professor at the University of Pavia. His athletic career includes being a member of the Croatian national freediving team, winning the 2004 World Freediving Championship, as well as three consecutive national titles and two national records in two different freediving disciplines. Following the death of a friend in freediving, he interrupted his competitive career to become a swimming, finswimming, and freediving coach, earning the title of CONI European Level IV Technician and a CONI Olympic trainer in sports medicine and physiology. He focuses his clinical and research work on respiratory issues and beyond, working on improving performance through breath training, specific freediving training, and also on respiratory issues in pediatrics. He also teaches breathing techniques for the International Longevity Science Association and studies the correlations between stress, emotions, and breathing in the field of anti-aging medicine. He is the author of national and international scientific publications and a speaker at various courses and conferences. He is the author of eight books. The documentary film Broken Breath, dedicated to his life, received the award for best film at the international Ocean Film Festival.