David Blaine Breaks World Record on Oprah

David Blaine (35) really did set a new world record Wednesday for holding his breath. The time, 17 minutes and 4 seconds. His left attempt was after spending a prolonged period of time in a water sphere leaving him weak. He had seizures when pulled from the water sphere on his first attempt. This time, he was alert and relaxed.

How did he do it? Blood doping.

Blaine used a low oxygen tent to force his body to make a lot more oxygen carrying red blood cells. The tent simulates a high altitude, low oxygen, environment that the body adapts to. Athletes use these tents to increase their performance. Blaine used it to successfully break the world record.

Blaine also inhaled pure oxygen through a mask to saturate his blood with oxygen and flush out carbon dioxide.

Guinness says up to 30 minutes of so-called "oxygen hyperventilation" is allowed under its guidelines.

The previous record was 16 minutes and 32 seconds, set by Switzerland’s Peter Colat, according to Guinness World Records.

Blaine said this was "a lifelong dream."

Watch Blaine break the record in the video below.