The Deepest Breath: Where is Alessia Zecchini now?

Netflix’s latest documentary feature The Deepest Breath chronicles the highs and lows faced by Italian freediving professional Alessia Zecchini in her pursuit of several world records. This extreme sport is highly dangerous, something highlighted in the film from A24.

Alessia worked alongside expert safety consultant Stephen Keenan and the two slowly formed a deep bond throughout their various diving expeditions. But tragedy struck in July 2017 at a popular diving spot off the coast of Eygpt when Stephen left the guidance rope meant to lead divers back to the surface to save Alessia from swimming in the wrong direction.

Ultimately, Stephen did not survive. Both divers were blacked out when they resurfaced, and Stephen is believed to have died on the way to the hospital. Despite the tragic incident, Alessia continues to professionally free dive, and the “Keenan Award” has been created in Stephen’s honor for safety divers who show outstanding dedication to their divers.

How long can Alessia Zecchini hold her breath?

It’s unconfirmed exactly how long Alessia can hold her breath, but given the records she’s been breaking, we know she can hold it for at least three to four minutes.

The Deepest Breath: Where is Alessia Zecchini now?

Since Stephen Keenan’s death, Alessia has set over 20 world records in sea and pool. She dedicates each record to him. The professional freediver continues to pursue her passion for the sport and most recently won the gold medal at the 2023 AIDA Oceanquest Philippines in Camotes Island.

Before that, she broke a world record in the Bi-fins discipline during the 2023 Secret Blue International Depth Competition in the Philippines by achieving a 109-meter dive in 3 minutes and 38 seconds. According to DiverNet, this dive “broke her own two-day-old record of 107m, set on a 3min 26sec dive on 29 March” and surpassed “the previous AIDA record by a 10m margin.”

The Deepest Breath is now available on Netflix. Add the documentary to your watchlist here.