Steve LoBue in action - Photo credit: Giorgio Scala
Duque was also a confident man after his performance.
"I am happy with my dives. I haven’t done any major mistake and I appreciated the weather today, which was not so hot”, confessed the Colombian star. On LoBue’s advantage, Duque takes it easy: “He performed one of the most difficult dives and he did it well; that’s the key of his provisional lead."
Closing the provisional podium, British Gary Hunt, silver medallist in Barcelona behind Duque, knows that he has to recover 20 points, but remains optimistic. “I missed my second dive, which is normally well executed, but I felt strange in the air. Then I over rotated a bit in the third one [the most ‘valuable’ combination of the day, a back 3 somersaults and 4 twists in the pike position, worth a DD of 6.2]. But I can still recover, everything is possible," Hunt said.
On his most direct challengers for the final, he laughs when recognising that Duque “is once more in front of me” and, more seriously, admits that “Steve has really improved and wants to win everything”.
Gary Hunt (GBR) is the third best so far - Photo credit: Giorgio Scala
The disappointment of the day was Jonathan Paredes from Mexico, third at the 2013 FINA World Championships. Tied with Duque in the lead after the first and second dives, the Mexican athlete then badly missed his third attempt, a dive that he normally performs well. Paredes is for the moment 10th in the rankings, having to beat a group of athletes that were quite regular throughout the session – Andy Jones and David Colturi, both from USA, are fourth and fifth, followed by Michal Navratil (CZE, 6th), Blake Aldridge (GBR, 7th), Artem Silchenko (local hero, in 8th) and Anatoli Shabotenko (UKR, 9th).
The competition was also marked by some withdrawals: from the initial 25 divers entered in the men’s competition, Jorge Ferzuli (MEX) and Alain Kohl (LUX) got injured in the training, while Kai Kirbs (GER) and Sasha Kutsenko (UKR) did not complete their three preliminary dives.
Opening and Press Conference
Between the first and second round of dives, the inaugural edition of the FINA High Diving World Cup was formally opened by the FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione. After a performance of dance by local artists, Dr. Maglione came on stage accompanied by the Aid of the President of Russia Mr. Igor Levitin, by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan Mr. Ildar Khalilov, by FINA Executive Director Mr. Cornel Marculescu and the President of the Russian Diving Federation Mr. Alexey Vlasenko. Welcoming all the athletes and officials present at this World Cup, the FINA President expressed his gratitude to Kazan for hosting such a top-level and reiterated FINA’s hopefulness on the joint organisation of the FINA World Championships and FINA World Masters Championships. “Your city is definitively ready to welcome the best aquatic athletes in the planet!” declared Dr. Maglione. On the importance of the World Cup, he said:
“Outstanding images of the newest FINA discipline will be broadcasted worldwide and will show the immense attractiveness and appeal of this Sport. The performances, the courage and the aesthetic perfection of our athletes will be a source of inspiration for many."
The FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione during the Opening Ceremony - Photo credit: Giorgio Scala
Before the action in Kazan, the same message of optimism was transmitted during the Opening Press Conference. To the media representatives accredited for the event, Dr. Maglione underlined: “This World Cup, to be organised annually, takes place one year before the start of the 2015 FINA World Championships in this exciting city. The Organisers of the FINA major event are working very hard and we are sure that the entire Aquatic Family will live an unforgettable experience."