10 People With Real-Life “Superpowers” That Challenge Our Understanding Of The Human Body
Wim Hof is a Dutch extreme athlete whose “superpower” gives Mr. Freeze a run for his money. With a seemingly superhuman resistance to cold, Hof’s incredible feats include swimming 189 feet (58 meters) under ice, spending 44 minutes under full-body contact with ice, and setting the record for the fastest half-marathon barefoot in the snow: 2:16:34.
Hof claims his abilities are due to his unique training regimen called the “Wim Hof Method,” but scientists aren’t convinced. And, in fact, Hof has been involved in a number of controversies after several people died attempting his techniques.
While they aren’t exactly sure why the 64-year-old, nicknamed “The Iceman,” can handle low temperatures lethal to most people, scientists suspect it’s due to an innate genetic feature allowing Hof to produce more heat than others.
The reasoning? Hof has an identical twin brother who, despite living an otherwise normal lifestyle, can also handle extreme cold.
