Part 3: The Heroes and Legends of High Diving
This is the last installment of our look at the high dive world record. You can click here to go back to Part 1. Part 2 is available here.
2019: Laso Schaller sets the high dive record*
Brazilian diver/adventurer Laso Schaller didn’t just beat the high dive record, he smashed it by more than 6m.
The video is incredible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQzdakJQ-Mg
Schaller was well-prepared before jumping from 58.8 meters (192.9 feet) at a waterfall in Cascata del Salto, Switzerland. Unlike other divers, he took all necessary precautions by wisely wearing shoes, a full-wetsuit and helmet.
According to the video, he falls for 3.58 seconds and then enters the water at an insane 123km/hr.
Although the impact slightly dislocated his hip, he was able to climb out of the water just fine, making it a successful jump.
This jump makes Laso Schaller the current high dive world record holder*.
As you will see, the asterisk is necessary.
3 more diving legends
2014: Spider
Although this dive is not record breaking at only 80 feet, it is great because of how calm Spider remains. This jump is performed at the famous Rick’s Cafe in Jamaica.
He confidently proclaims, “no problem” before the dive.
The end is interesting because of how close he comes to impaling himself on a rock. Be careful man!
1933: Lou Vlasblom
Lou Vlasblom is said to have jumped from a height of 65 meters from the lift bridge of the Koningshaven Bridge in Rotterdam.
Two weeks later, another diver named Jan Tabbernee attempted the jump from the very top of the bridge, which was six meters, but did not survive.
Strangely, Vlasblom is never mentioned as a high dive world record holder. This may be due to the fact it was not properly documented.
1936: Harry Froboess
If the stories of Harry Froboess are true, then he is unquestionably the GOAT of high diving. Not only was he a stuntman in over 400 movies and has his modern art hanging in New York’s famed Museum of Modern Art, but he also has a jump that shatters all modern records.
In 1936, Froboess jumped out of an airship called the Graf Zeppelin into Lake Constance in Austria from a height of 110 meters (361 feet). In addition, there is an image of him diving headfirst from a 75 meter bridge at another point in his career.
I’m admittedly skeptical of a 110 meter jump from a Zeppelin, but if true, Froboess deserves every accolade possible. It also means Schaller’s jump needs an asterisk.
Return to Part 1 of The High Dive Record – A Bone-Breaking History
Return to Part 2 of The High Dive Record – A Bone-Breaking History
