RB Cliff Diving World Series 2016: Stop #2 in Copenhagen, DEN - June 18th 2016

Brit wins 2nd stop of the 2016 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series while Mexico’s Jonathan Paredes
defends overall lead in Copenhagen

Five-time champion Gary Hunt rediscovered his winning form in stunning style on a windy day in
Copenhagen. The title holder, absent from the podium in his previous two events stretching back to last
season, compiled a new record high-score from his four dives in front of 40,000 fans in the Danish
capital. Wildcard Kris Kolanus produced the surprise performance of the weekend, stringing together
quality dives from 28 metres and powering onto the podium in second-place, a personal best finish for
the Pole. Mexican Jonathan Paredes followed up his victory in Texas with another top three finish and
keeps an overall lead in the 2016 World Series.

Before Saturday’s competition it was the 26-year-old’s goal to stay on top in the overall rankings by
perfectly executing his tried and trusted dives. Pumped with the confidence of a recent win, the World
Series’ style master successfully accomplished this goal and once again was the diver who got awarded
more 10s from the judges than anyone else in the competition. Thus perfectionist Paredes stays ahead
of Hunt’s diving complexity in the standings after two of nine events in 2016.

Today’s top performer Gary Hunt added the 26th victory in 52 competitions to his personal World Series
statistics by pushing the score after four rounds of diving to new heights (550.30pts). The ‘brilliant Brit’
did not need to pull off his most difficult dives but hit the day’s high score with his signature dive, the
back 3 somersaults 4 twists free, to make it two consecutive wins in this venue after 2015.

Despite challenging conditions with wind gusts up to 55kmh and shivery waters, the 14 athletes did not
show cold feet when diving off the platform 28m above the famous Copenhagen Opera House; and it
was wildcard Kolanus, following on from a 10th place finish in the season opener, who was hot off the
platform as he nailed his technique and entry to pick up the second highest score of the day. The Pole,
who has now a second podium finish to his name, is only the second wildcard ever to finish in the top
three. With this result in Denmark the 29-year-old gets washed into 4th overall to distance highly
decorated athletes such as former Olympian Blake Aldridge (GBR) on 5th and the sport’s legend
Orlando Duque (COL) on 7th.
 
From the season’s most northerly point in urban surrounding the world’s cliff diving elite move on to the
purest location and to an off-the-cliff competition on the Portuguese Azores on July 9. The season’s third
event will see the women return as they compete in the second of seven stops.
 
Quotes from the Winners

Gary Hunt, GBR
Of course I’m happy. I played the tactics card this time. I took a twist off my first Optional Dive and it
worked. It was tough conditions; it was cold. But that’s part of being a cliff diver; you have to be ready to
adapt to all conditions. I’m an Englishman so I´m used to the cold.

Kris Kolanus, POL
This result can definitely be a reason to celebrate. I got a 10 from the judges for the first time, this is the
highest score. The competition was almost perfect. I just have to improve the DD I guess and maybe
then I can jump over Gary, which is very hard but you never know. We have to keep pushing the sport
into the Olympic Games. I think it’s our goal to make it happen.

Jonathan Paredes, MEX
I’m super happy, because of the weather conditions having this result here means so much to me. I’ve
never made the podium here before, so today I’m super happy.
 
Results – Stop #2, Copenhagen | DEN
1. Gary Hunt, GBR – 550.30pts.
2. Kris Kolanus (W), POL – 505.15
3. Jonathan Paredes, MEX – 500.80
4. David Colturi, USA – 487.00
5. Orlando Duque, COL – 482.20
6. Michal Navratil, CZE – 455.05
7. Steven LoBue, USA – 415.05
8. Alain Kohl (W), LUX – 399.25
9. Sergio Guzman, MEX – 283.60
10. Andy Jones, USA – 281.80
11. Blake Aldridge, GBR – 263.95
12. Artem Silchenko, RUS – 256.70
13. Kyle Mitrione (W), USA – 150.80
14. Alessandro De Rose (W), ITA – 85.10
 
Standings MEN (after 2 of 9 stops)
1. Jonathan Paredes, MEX – 330pts.
2. Gary Hunt, GBR – 310
3. Michal Navratil, CZE – 200
4. Kris Kolanus (W), POL – 190
5. Blake Aldridge, GBR – 180
6. David Colturi, USA – 170
7. Orlando Duque, COL – 160
8. Alessandro De Rose (W), ITA – 98
9. Steven LoBue, USA – 80
10. Andy Jones, USA – 70
11. Artem Silchenko, RUS – 60
12. Alain Kohl (W), LUX – 50
13. Sergio Guzman, MEX – 48
14. Kyle Mitrione (W), USA – 19
15. Miguel Garcia (W), COL – 9
 
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
Since 2009, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series has provided a platform for exhilarating action and
dives of ever-growing complexity. The series features elite athletes as well as young up-and-coming
talent and a Women’s World Series was introduced in 2014. In 2016 the sport's best athletes will once
again leap, twist and somersault from breathtaking heights with no protection, except their concentration, skill and physical control during nine competitions around the world.