Watch the moment C?me Girardot sets a death diving record: 'Once you count to three, there is no going back'

At just 22 years old, C?me Girardot has set a new world record in ‘dods diving’ or ‘death diving’ (dods means death in Norwegian) by leaping from a staggering 145.34-foot (44.3m) cliff in Spain. Before you start questioning your life choices while others are making history at such a young age, wait till you hear what death diving actually entails.

Inside Girardot’s record-breaking death dive

Dods diving is when the jumper flies through the air horizontally before curling up at the last second so their hands and feet hit the water at the same time.

According to CorriereTV, the dive lasted just three heart-pounding seconds, with Girardot plummeting feet-first at a speed of around 106 km/h.

Girardot shared the thrilling moment on Instagram, and it’s safe to say it was a real stomach-dropper.?

“Joining the #40club has been my goal since my last world record at 36 meters and after planning this for 8 months, with its ups and downs, it has finally happened,” he posted.

The previous record of 136.81 feet (41.7 meters) had been set just a few months earlier by Switzerland’s Lucien Charlon.

In an interview with MailOnline, Girardot, who’s been diving for five years, described the intense months leading up to the jump, saying daily dives were essential to train his body for the impact.?

But the toughest part? The mental battle just before leaping. “Once you count to three, there is no going back and you just have to jump.”

He also shared that the strong winds on the day of the dive made it even harder to stay focused.

What is death diving and how does it work?

Dods diving, which means "death" in Norwegian, originated in Norway in 1969.?

Unlike traditional high diving, as reported by SurferToday.com, this style involves divers spreading their arms and legs wide as they jump, flying horizontally toward the water without performing flips or rotations. Just before they hit the surface, divers tuck into a fetal position to lessen the impact.

Credit: Visit Norway | Representational image

Judges in this extreme sport evaluate four main factors: the run-up, which emphasizes speed and power off the platform; the controlled flight, where divers can perform tricks; the landing, where a more horizontal entry earns higher scores; and the overall impression, which considers the flow of the dive.

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