Abu Dhabi: Britain’s ace diver Gary Hunt is the “machine of the sport” — that’s the assessment of his main challenger from Spain Jonathan Paredes on the eve of the FINA High Diving World Cup series that gets under way at Yas Island on Friday.
Hunt is one diver whom the entire pack is chasing right from the start of the season for one simple reason — his total dominance.
Hunt boasts of being the 2016 winner FINA High Diving World Cup, 2015 FINA High Diving World Champion, winner of 28 Cliff Diving Championship and has been the overall winner of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series overall winner in six editions (2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011 & 2010).
So what is that makes the 33-year-old so dominating and invincible?
“It’s the mental toughness that gives me the edge,” says the defending champion without mincing his words.
But for someone to be so accurate with his timing consistently, there has to be some formula to go with the toughness he is so proud off and for that, one has to dig deep into his past.
“As a young diver, I didn’t have a very high level but I loved the sport so much that I always wanted to improve. My friends had a very high level and I had to push myself to keep up with them,” reveals the Parisian-resident adding that his lack of skill forced him to put himself in difficult situations — and that did wonders to his confidence.
“I started to try dives I wasn’t really capable of. I made lots of mistakes when I was younger but I just kept going. It gave me mental toughness and good spatial awareness,” said Hunt, who revealed that his main edge is his ability to find his way back even when he gets lost in the air.
“Spatial awareness helps me to land back on my feet again just because of all the training I do. So it gives me a lot of confidence when I’m on the board and in this sport, confidence is everything,” says Hunt, Punjab hope to get revenge on Warner-led Hyderabad for defeat earlier in the season whose only focus when atop the board is to get his dive right and nothing else.
“It is difficult to think about the position you are lying in, the results and others’ performance. When I’m training in the off season I’m not training to beat other divers. I know my body, I know my potential and as long as I feel like I can improve, I try to do that,” said Hunt.
And Hunt relishes being the hunted.
“I feel very gratified to be on top of the podium. The driving force that keeps me training is just to improve and keep learning. Definitely, there is more of a pressure being the champion but that’s something that I enjoy and like to feel that other people are chasing me,” said Hunt, adding it is always more difficult to stay on top than to chase the leader and he loves that challenge.
Along with all that, Hunt is a strong believer that one should always keep a tab on what his pursuers are doing and feels there are a few of whom he has to be wary off.
“Blake Aldridge, my teammate from England with whom I have trained has a lot of potential. Paredes has learnt a difficult dive for this event and is a very consistent driver and always had very good scores from the judges. Now with extra difficulty he is definitely a challenger. And then American Steve LoBue is somebody who is looking strong with big ideas,” revealed Hunt, who prefers High diving more than Cliff diving despite having more success in the latter.
“For me I need to have a platform. Diving from the cliff is a lot of fun but for me I would like to have a solid base. I like to know that everything is at a good level and it is safe. I think that’s where I can shine and push myself more.”
IN BOX
Career Highlights
• 6-time winner Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
• Winner of 28 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series competitions to date
• 2016 — winner FINA High Diving World Cup
• 2015 — FINA High Diving World Champion
• 2006 — 3rd Commonwealth Games 10m Synchro
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series ranking
2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011 & 2010 — 1st overall
2013 & 2009 — 2nd overall
