Everything is ready in Kazan for the start of the competition - Credit photo: Giorgio Scala
The initial day of competition, on August 8, will comprise the first men’s session, with three preliminary rounds of dives – from the 25 athletes starting this World Cup, the best 18 will qualify for the second session, on August 10. Women action is on Saturday, with three rounds of dives.
Among the happy athletes, was Anna Bader, from Germany, bronze medallist at the 2013 FINA World Championships.
“I’m very excited, as it is in fact my first visit to Russia. I wanted to visit this country for a long time, and this is an excellent opportunity. The people are very open and nice”, confessed the German star.
On her first feelings in Kazan, she finds the platform “very solid” and hopes the “good weather will continue in the days to come”.
First edition of the FINA High Diving World Cup is attended by 34 athletes from 16 countries - Credit photo: Giorgio Scala
Related to her performances, Bader naturally expects to upgrade her bronze medal, and has made an additional effort to achieve this goal: “From my three dives, two are new, with an increased degree of difficulty (DD). From the additional exposure generated after the FINA World Championships in Barcelona, the divers are improving their DD: there are more things possible, but I hope that the sport remains elegant and nice”, she says.
On the Olympic possibility for High Diving, Anna Bader, looks at the blue sky and hopes: “It’s the number 1 dream for any athlete. My Mum was an Olympian in gymnastics in 1968 and 1972, so this was always present at home”.
Before this afternoon training session, the FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione paid a visit to the venue accompanied by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Mr. Rustam Minnikhanov. Dr. Maglione had the occasion to express FINA’s satisfaction and gratitude for the involvement and support of the Tatar authorities for the successful set-up of this first edition of the FINA High Diving World Cup.