Day One Of High Diving In Budapest

Photo Courtesy: FINA

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Today was the first day of high diving for both men and women at the FINA world championships in Budapest took place.

High diving competition is a little different from other diving events, not only because of the height difference. Divers only compete their lists once, but over the course of two different events.

Earlier, 10 women competed their first dive from 20 meter, or almost 66 feet. 22 men competed their first two dives from 27 meter, a platform approximately 88 and a half feet high.

On the women’s side, with only one dive on the books the rankings are very close. Anna Bader of Germany is in the top spot with 67.6 points. Following her is a three way tie between Australian Rhiannan Iffland, Adriana Jimenez from Mexico, and Tara Tira of the United States. Then another three way tie between Cesilie Carlton from the United States, Australian Helena Merten and Yana Nestsiarava of Belarus follows them.

With so much of the competition left, any of these women could come out on top. They will continue with rounds two through four in tomorrow’s final.

Gary Hunt from Great Britain is leading the pack in the men’s competition. Hunt is largely considered the best cliff diver in the world. He has been the Red Bull World Series Champion for the last six years, an event that’s only been happening for eight years. Of the 59 Red Bull competitions included in the world series, Hunt has won 28 and been on the podium for 51.

Additionally, Hunt is the only man who competes the hardest dive in the history of cliff diving, a front triple with four and a half twists.

Michal Navratil from the Czech Republic is trailing him in second place, while Miguel Garcia from Columbia is in third. Americans Steve Lo Bue and David Cloturi are in fourth and fifth place right now.

The men’s final two rounds are set to take place on Sunday.

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