Apoxyomenos was found in 1996 by Belgian tourist René Wouters in the sea near the islet of Vele Orjule, on the sandy bottom between two rocks at a depth of about 45 metres (148 ft).

Wouters, an avid sports diver and amateur photographer who had been visiting Croatia and the island of Lošinj for several years, discovered the statue by chance during one of his dives.

He was present when a team of divers from the Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Museum in Zadar, the Special Police, and the Submar d.o.o., raised the statue from the sea on 27 April 1999.

Art historians Nenad Cambi from Split and professor Vincenzo Saladino from the University of Florence believe that this bronze statue dates from 2nd or 1st century BC.

Radiocarbon dating of organic material found inside the statue indicated that Apoxyomenos did not fall into the sea immediately after it was made, but, according to the results, sometime between 20 BC and 110 AD.

[6] Extensive underwater search on an area of 50,000 square meters (540,000 sq.ft) around the finding, using robotic probes and metal detectors, revealed fragments of the bronze base of the statue, a lead anchor bar, and some amphorae remains.

Since the findings do not indicate a shipwreck, researchers believe that Apoxyomenos was thrown into the sea from a Roman merchant ship during a storm, but the reason remains a mystery.

[6] Croatian archaeologist Nenad Cambi analysed the body type and proportions of the statue and concluded – based on the muscular development of the upper torso – that it most probably represents a wrestler.

[4] In February 2007, Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader advocated moving Apoxyomenos to the island of Lošinj, the archipelago it was found in, but he left the final decision to the experts from the Council for Cultural Heritage.