High diving sets lofty goals

Thousands turn out to witness debut at world championships

High diving has taken the plunge into mainstream sports.

Thousands of people turned out on Monday to watch 14 competitors descend from the height of a nine-story building into Barcelona's harbor in the first two rounds of the inaugural men's high diving final at the world championships.

Cliff diving great Orlando Duque totaled the day's best score of 217.10 points after a pair of tumbling plummets from about 27 meters that ended with a loud splash as he jackknifed into the green water.

After a moment of suspense the 38-year-old Colombian bobbed to the surface, flashed a smile and gestured OK with both hands to ignite cheers from the crowd massed along the shore and in a fleet of boats.

"Winning a medal would be awesome, but winning the first one ... you would always be remembered," Duque said. "It would be quite an honor."

The final continues on Wednesday with three more rounds of dives off the temporary scaffold platform erected in Barcelona's old harbor, near where the famous Las Ramblas street meets the Mediterranean Sea.

Artem Silchenko of Russia is second with 215.95 points, followed by Jonathan Paredes of Mexico with 213.30. Three-time defending Red Bull series champion Gary Hunt is fourth with 213.

The women will dive from a platform of 20 meters in Tuesday's one-day final.

Hunt said it was "great" that high diving had finally become part of the world championships.

"It's been a long time since we started talking about this sport being part of a big event, and it's great to be a part of it," Hunt said.

"After the first day, the crowd was packed. I think it went well. I am happy with my dives and very much looking forward to the day after tomorrow."

High diving appears to require a measure of bravery, lunacy - or both, depending on whom you ask.

China's Qiu Bo won his second world title on Sunday in the men's 10m platform, the highest pool dive. He has no plans to go any higher.

"No, I am not going to try it," Qiu said. "But I'm definitely going to watch it. I think it's amazing. It takes a lot of courage."

Qiu was not alone. Several members of the US diving team turned out to support American high divers Steve Lobue and Kent De Mond - and none professed a desire to try the greater height.

Just in case, scuba divers waited below the platform, submerging as the divers broke the surface in case they needed help.

No divers did and no one was hurt in an event that can cause injury if a diver fails to enter the water at a straight angle, feet first and with arms tight against the body.

The Red Bull cliff diving world series, with its disc jockeys and party atmosphere, has more of a surfing vibe. The high diving at the worlds is more subdued and largely silent, like the pool diving.

"Things are a little more official here," Hunt said. "Everything is taken very seriously. You have to be in the right place at the right time and go to presentations and things like that. But competition-wise, it's the same."

The world swimming federation approved high diving as a full medal event only five months ago, hoping to tap into the success of the established Red Bull series that can draw thousands of spectators.

And judging by the number of people who ignored Barcelona's multiple attractions to watch the show, it was mission accomplished.

(China Daily 07/31/2013 page22)