The only male to sweep both the 3m and 10m diving events in consecutive Olympic Games (’84 and ’88), Greg Louganis, a regular on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series judging panel up until now, has observed the sport’s progression over the past years: “This series standardized the sport. The height is always between 21m for the women and 27m for the men; as the most recent adjustment, the degree of difficulty table was amended to the sport’s development and implemented by the sports committee in alignment with FINA and secures that all dives are rated according to their difficulty.”
Louganis serving on the Red Bull Cliff Diving judges panel – Photo Courtesy: Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
The four-time Olympic champion from the US follows Niki Stajkovic as the World Series’ sports director, after the Austrian sadly passed away in February. 57-year-old Louganis is determined to continue the work of his former Olympic competitor, who has established Red Bull Cliff Diving as the most recognized series of competition ever since its inauguration in 2009. Before the most competitive World Series season begins in June with six global stops in a wide-open championship, FINA has proposed high diving for inclusion at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
In his position as the sports director of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, 5-time world champion Louganis will carry on Stajkovic’s work, who’s defined improvement and evolution as crucial aspects of the series.
I am thrilled to be working even more closely with the Red Bull Cliff Diving family, one of the most supportive and creative teams I’ve had the pleasure of being associated with. Interacting with this extraordinarily talented and elite group of athletes as a judge was already something I cherished, but being able to continue the work of my dear friend, the extraordinary Niki Stajkovic, is both humbling and an honor. I look forward to the 2017 season as we continue to strengthen awareness of cliff diving as the important and pure sport it is.
Besides offering jaw-dropping diving action, the World Series has provided a platform for exhilarating action and dives of ever-growing complexity since 2009. It features elite athletes as well as young up-and-coming talent and a Women’s World Series was introduced in 2014. In 2017 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 six competitions around the world.
Louganis (L) and Orlando Duque (R) – Photo Courtesy: Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
The IOC Olympic Programme Commission will make a decision on new events and disciplines during an Executive Board meeting in July.
Timeline Progression of High Diving:
2009 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series debuts in La Rochelle, France
2012 FINA includes high diving as a professional sport
2013 Orlando Duque (COL) and Cesilie Carlton (USA) become the first FINA world champions
2017 FINA proposes high diving for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo
2017 Diving’s greatest Greg Louganis becomes sports director of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
Greg Louganis
Four-time Olympic champion Greg Louganis is widely considered the greatest diver in history. The only male to sweep both the 3m and 10m diving events in consecutive Olympic Games (’84 and ’88), Greg earned a total of 5 Olympic medals, 5 World Championship titles and 47 national titles. He made history at the 1982 Olympics as the first diver ever awarded a perfect score. In Los Angeles at the 1984 Summer Olympics, Louganis achieved gold medals in both the men’s 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform events. He became the first diver to break 700-point mark in scoring of the men’s platform in Olympic history.
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 2017 the sport’s best athletes will once again leap, twist and somersault from up to 27m with no protection, except their concentration, skill and physical control during six competitions around the world.
2017 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Calendar
June 24 – Inis Mór, Ireland
July 9 – São Miguel, Azores, Portugal
July 23 – Polignano a Mare, Italy
September 3 – Texas, USA
September 16 – Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
October 21 – Lago Ranco, Chile
For latest updates, please visit redbullcliffdiving.com
Press release courtesy of Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.
Greg:
Congratulation’s, Steven from the Stanford Avery Aquatic Center.
You will do your Best to fulfill that position.