Gary Hunt arrived at the Fina High Diving World Cup as the favourite and lived up to that billing by leaving a comfortable winner at the capital’s Corniche Breakwater on Monday.
He came, he saw and he conquered
Briton Hunt, who won the 2015 World Championships in Kazan last year, another version of the Fina 27-metre high diving event, was flawless throughout the five rounds to return with a score of 639.80.
Other medals
Jonathan Paredes, the Mexican taking part under the Fina flag, was the runner-up ahead of the Colombian and 2014 world champion Orlando Duque with scores of 578.70 and 572.15 respectively.
Paredes was also runner-up in Kazan ahead of the Russian Artem Silchenko and Duque. Silchenko could finish only seventh after a poor last dive in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
‘Stronger’
“It was different to Kazan,” said Hunt, pictured, when asked if the competition resembled his heroics of the 2015 world championship.
“I felt stronger and more confident arriving in Abu Dhabi. The world championship is behind me and this was a new event. It definitely feels great for the training I have been doing.”
Emotion
“I didn’t want to come for this show and look rusty,” he said.
“In the other World Cup events I have come second and fourth, and finally I have now won a gold. I’m overwhelmed with this result.”
Cool head
Despite leading in every round, Hunt still had some work to do in his final dive, the 5268D combination, integrating a back three somersaults and four twists.
He scored 158.10 on his final dive with marks of 9 and 8.5 to go clear of his rivals.
Nerves
“I was very nervous,” he said. “I have been in a position before when just before the last dive I have made a mistake and I didn’t want that to happen again.”
Relief
Hunt finished second and fourth in the previous two stagings of the Fina High Diving World Cup.
“Finally I have won the gold,” he said when asked if he was under pressure as the world champion.
“In this type of competition I don’t think of the other divers. This competition is an individual event. When you are at the end of the platform you are thinking about yourself and not about the rivals.”
Content
Paredes was gracious in defeat and said if he had to win the World Cup Hunt was the man to beat.
“I feel great, though” he said. “It was a really good competition, and I am super happy with my results. The next competition is in Texas. For now, we have some rest and we will see how it goes this year.”
A re-match is on the cards with Hunt also headed to Texas for the Red Bull series in June.
apassela@thenational.ae
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