Red Bull Cliff Diving: Mission accomplished

After a third place at the ‚Blue Lagoon’ in 2012, Gary Hunt wanted a home win more than anything else and he accomplished the feat on Saturday afternoon in front of an enthusiastic Welsh crowd. Second place went to Russia’s Artem Silchenko and Orlando Duque, from Colombia, made it to the podium. More than 5,500 spectators over the weekend watched as three UK divers made the final round of the top-eight athletes for the first time this season and bright sunshine made up for a week of wet and physically-demanding weather conditions.

"Today’s my day," Gary Hunt said in a first statement. With the added motivation of competing at home and the support of the crowd in the Colosseum-like former quarry Team GB propelled its performance to never seen heights. Former Olympian Blake Aldridge finished 7th after missing the final in the last two stops. Mat Cowen, the man who had his first appearance on the World Series at this location a year ago, reached a personal best claiming fifth place. When today’s last athlete, Artem Silchenko, surfaced from his final 27m-dive and the scores were announced, the crowds along the cliffs and on kayaks went wild, the ‘brilliant Brit’ had just won at home. He (510.90pts) left his first follower in the overall standings, Artem Silchenko, behind by less than two points and ten-time world champion Orlando Duque (478.90, COL) made it into the top three for fourth time this season.

With the second win to his name, Gary Hunt now has a decent lead of 120 points over Artem Silchenko (860pts) in the World Series standings after six of eight global tour stops. On third position, 39-year-old Duque lies another 40 points behind the Russian. Tension among the cliff diving combatants rises as the 2013 season gets closer to the final showdown and two new locations – Brazil and Thailand. Only those, who compete on a consistently high level can be part of a 2014 Series.

For 14 of the world’s best cliff divers the return to the circular ‘Blue Lagoon’, a former slate quarry in south-west Wales, was a return to pastoral farmland and flocks of white and black sheep after the all-urban stop in Boston. Their acrobatic 3-second flights into the fresh Celtic Sea shattered the serenity of this usually quiet corner of the country.

The Welsh stop of the World Series was the last one on European soil for the season. The competition resumes in just two weeks' time in the Brazilian city of Niterói.

Gary Hunt (UK)

It’s amazing. I’d said so many times in interviews before this event that I wanted to win that even if I had come second I would not have been happy! I had to win here! It was really close but I managed to do it. I saw that Artem (Silchenko’s) dive was a little short of vertical but there was next to no splash so I just wanted to see the scores because I knew it was going to be close and there was just a point in it. The crowd today were amazing. This was my favourite stop last year so when I knew we were coming back I was so up for it. It’s close between me and Artem for the title but I wouldn’t count out Orlando (Duque) just yet.

Artem Silchenko (RUS)

Today was crazy. It’s the first time we’ve had two such high scores. I dived very well today. I did everything that I could but today Gary (Hunt) was a point or two better than me and that’s the sport. I dived a little bit short on my last dive. It was good but not good enough! We have two more stops now and I will compete with Gary for the title.

Orlando Duque (COL)

It was an incredible competition – a very high-scoring one. I don’t think the British guys have dived much better than they did today. No one can touch Artem (Silchenko) and Gary (Hunt) when they’re diving like that. When they’re pushing themselves to score 510 or 509 points... only they can do that. It’s getting harder and harder to win the title this season. I’m still third but Gary and Artem are out in front. I’m pleased that the level is so high – it is good for the sport. I’ll be ready for Rio in two weeks. I will take a quick trip home for a week and then it’s off to Brazil!

RESULTS

1. Gary Hunt | UK | 510.90 pts

2. Artem Silchenko | RUS | 509.25

3. Orlando Duque | COL | 478.90

4. Jonathan Paredes | MEX | 462.75

5. Mat Cowen | UK | 459.60

6. Andy Jones (wildcard) | USA | 426.65

7. Blake Aldridge | UK | 407.95

8. Steven LoBue | USA | 404.65

9. David Colturi | USA | 305.20

10. Michal Navratil | CZE | 301.30

11. Alessandro De Rose (wildcard) | ITA | 276.90

12. Kris Kolanus (wildcard) | POL | 259.20

13. Cyrille Oumedjkane (wildcard) | FRA | 230.80

14. Igor Semashko (wildcard) | RUS | 165.30