LAUSANNE, Switzerland, August 10. ORLANDO Duque made once more history by becoming the first winner of the FINA High Diving World Cup, organised in Kazan (RUS) from August 8-10, 2014. The Colombian star, gold medallist at the 2013 FINA World Championships, when this discipline was introduced in the Aquatic programme, was the most solid diver in the capital of Tatarstan, concluding his five-dive competition with a total of 601.20 points.
As in Barcelona last year, Gary Hunt, from Great Britain, was the runner-up, amassing 580.05 points, being followed by US diver Steve LoBue, the leader after the first session of dives on August 8. LoBue got the bronze in 571.70.
Among women, the US supremacy was complete, with three North American representatives on the podium. Rachelle Simpson was the most consistent of the final, getting the gold in 216.00, almost 25 points better than her most direct challengers. Simpson was not present at the FINA World Championships 2013 in Barcelona (ESP), but is the leader of the 2014 circuit of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.
Ginger Huber got the silver in 191.60, repeating the result obtained at the 2013 Worlds in Spain. The bronze went to Cesilie Carlton (181.70), the first world champion in FINA’s history.
A total of US$ 116,000 was distributed to all divers taking part in this inaugural edition of the FINA High Diving World Cup. Representing 16 countries, there were 25 men and nine women in Kazan, also the Host City of the 2015 FINA World Championships and FINA World Masters Championships.
MEDALLISTS IN KAZAN:
Men
1. Orlando Duque (COL), 601.20 pts
2. Gary Hunt (GBR), 580.05 pts
3. Steve LoBue (USA), 571.70 pts
Women
1. Rachelle Simpson (USA), 216.00 pts
2. Ginger Huber (USA), 191.60 pts
3. Cesilie Carlton (USA), 181.70 pts
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