Christin Gerstorfer

Christin Gerstorfer © Abysmo Freediving

Austria | Born 1999

Apnoea diving is the oldest and most original form of diving. It involves taking just one breath before diving. The Greeks referred to the period of breath-holding as apnoea, which means ‘not breathing’. 

‘My name is Christin Gerstorfer and I am Austria’s youngest record holder in free diving.’ This is how the current number one female deep diver introduces herself. At 27 years of age, Gerstorfer holds 14 Austrian records in all disciplines of free diving and, with depths of up to 75 metres, is one of the most exceptional athletes in this sport.

As one of THE voices in the freediving scene, she shows how much more this sport is than just performance: freediving means mental strength, self-management and mindfulness. She promotes this publicly in lectures at universities as well as in her team-building and leadership programmes. She is also a master instructor, safety diver, judge and internationally sought-after underwater model.
She works as a coach and speaker. 

Born in the Waldviertel region and raised in Baden near Vienna, she discovered her passion for water at a very early age. It was the Australian TV series H2O – Just Add Water that fascinated her. By imitating the movements of underwater creatures, she taught herself to dive and managed to reach a depth of 18 metres at the age of 12. 

In 2023, she completed her training as an instructor. Her fascination became her profession. As an entrepreneur, Christin not only manages “Freediving Gerstorfer” in Austria, but also “Siquijor Freediving” in the Philippines. She shares her passion worldwide through courses. 

Christin’s journey is about more than just performance: after health setbacks, she fought her way back to the top of the world – with a mixture of willpower and belief in the freedom of being underwater. In projects such as the “Wings in the Deep” shoot at a depth of over 45 metres, she combines peak performance with visual poetry and shows that depth can be experienced not only physically but also emotionally.

Christin Gerstorfer inspires people. With her example, she invites us to continually challenge our courage and rediscover our limits.