Josef Šálek (CZE)
Coach, Motivator and Extreme Athlete
„My calling is to be happy. My mission is to inspire others to live a happy and fulfilling life.“
He likes to overcome seemingly impossible challenges and inspires many others to cope with anything that comes up. Not just physically, but also mentally. Josef runs barefoot, consumes only liquid food, and is currently preparing for attempting to break another Guiness World Record — right in front of your eyes!
Josef went through a major transformation from an overweight person with poor self-confidence into a strong and happy person who does sports and breaks both Czech and world records.
Since 2008, he has been organizing lectures and motivational events for personal development. But it was only in 2017 that he got more interested in lifestyle and movement. He started running barefoot, stopped eating heavy foods and meat, and gave up alcohol. He has been only on liquid nutrition now.
In May 2023, Josef lasted an incredible 9 hours, 38 minutes and 47 seconds in the plank position and set a new world record, which is registered in the Guinness Book of World Records.
In February this year, he also set another world record for the fastest half marathon run barefoot on snow, beating the 17-year-old feat of the famous Dutch athlete Wim Hof, also in the Guinness Book of Records.
With his records, Josef wants to show how to work with attention and mental adjustment. This can then be used in any other difficult situation in life.
Josef is also the author of the book Zlaté dno (Golden Bottom) describing his experience of being arrested by mistake in an Arab prison.
Rekordy bez hranic
17. 7. 2024 15:00 - 16:00
Josef will share his experience of how a man with low self-esteem and a very unhealthy lifestyle became a double world record holder in extreme endurance disciplines. With his records he shows the way to an unbreakable faith, strong self-confidence and a responsible lifestyle.
Guiness Record in plank! 17:30—19:00
18. 7. 2024 17:30 - 17:45
Josef is going to break the official Guiness Record at the festival: the longest endurance in the plank position with a 40 lb (18kg) weight on his back.
The current world record in this discipline is 80 minutes and 59 seconds, set by Chinese sportsman Xu Qisheng on 11/11/2022. The performance will be supervised by a commissioner from the Guinness Book of Records and if successful, Josef will become a triple record holder registered in this prestigious record book. Fingers crossed!
According to his own words, Josef wants to show how even great burdens in life can be managed. How one can work with attention and mental adjustment and even in this difficult position breathe calmly and relax. And this can then be used in any other difficult situation in life. It also proves that life can be changed at any age and lived to the fullest.