Gary Hunt leaves best for last to retain El Nido crown | ABS-CBN
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Gary Hunt leaves best for last to retain El Nido crown
Gary Hunt leaves best for last to retain El Nido crown
Camille B. Naredo,
ABS-CBN News
Published Apr 13, 2025 10:05 PM PHT
Gary Hunt of France gives interviews after winning in the Big Lagoon during the final competition day of the first stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in El Nido, Philippines on April 13, 2025. Red Bull
Gary Hunt of France gives interviews after winning in the Big Lagoon during the final competition day of the first stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in El Nido, Philippines on April 13, 2025. Red BullEL NIDO, Palawan -- Gary Hunt made an emotional comeback to the top of the podium in the El Nido leg of the 2025 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series on Sunday at the Big Lagoon.
EL NIDO, Palawan -- Gary Hunt made an emotional comeback to the top of the podium in the El Nido leg of the 2025 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series on Sunday at the Big Lagoon.
Hunt was the champion in the 2019 edition of the event, the first time that El Nido had hosted a Red Bull Cliff Diving stop. He went on to win the title that year, the second of four straight cliff diving championships.
Hunt was the champion in the 2019 edition of the event, the first time that El Nido had hosted a Red Bull Cliff Diving stop. He went on to win the title that year, the second of four straight cliff diving championships.
But the 40-year-old Hunt endured a difficult 2024 and entered this year's competition as a wild card, leaving the veteran with more pressure than usual to navigate.
But the 40-year-old Hunt endured a difficult 2024 and entered this year's competition as a wild card, leaving the veteran with more pressure than usual to navigate.
"I enjoy the pressure. I like to put the pressure on," Hunt said after Sunday's dive. "The story was there, making a comeback from taking a year off, I couldn't have asked for a better place to do it."
"I enjoy the pressure. I like to put the pressure on," Hunt said after Sunday's dive. "The story was there, making a comeback from taking a year off, I couldn't have asked for a better place to do it."
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He finished the story in thrilling fashion, clinching the top spot in El Nido with his final dive -- a back 3 somersaults with four twists, with a 5.2 degree of difficulty. Hunt gained three scores of 8.5 from the judges, and his fellow divers celebrated wildly after he hit the water.
He finished the story in thrilling fashion, clinching the top spot in El Nido with his final dive -- a back 3 somersaults with four twists, with a 5.2 degree of difficulty. Hunt gained three scores of 8.5 from the judges, and his fellow divers celebrated wildly after he hit the water.
"I had a mission to do this time. I needed to impress the judges and fight my way back into the season," said Hunt, who is now representing France. "As a wild card, the pressure is on, but I did what I had to do."
"I had a mission to do this time. I needed to impress the judges and fight my way back into the season," said Hunt, who is now representing France. "As a wild card, the pressure is on, but I did what I had to do."
Hunt entered the day ranked fourth, but zoomed to the lead after a stunning dive in Round 3 that got him three scores of 9.0 from the judges. Romania's Constantin Popovici had taken a big risk in the round with a dive that had a 5.7 degree of difficulty, but his scores of 7.0, 6.5, and 7.0 from the judges bumped him to No. 2 in the leaderboard.
Hunt entered the day ranked fourth, but zoomed to the lead after a stunning dive in Round 3 that got him three scores of 9.0 from the judges. Romania's Constantin Popovici had taken a big risk in the round with a dive that had a 5.7 degree of difficulty, but his scores of 7.0, 6.5, and 7.0 from the judges bumped him to No. 2 in the leaderboard.
Mexico's Jonathan Paredes further knocked down Popovici when he nailed his final dive for a total score of 381.90 points, good for second place.
Mexico's Jonathan Paredes further knocked down Popovici when he nailed his final dive for a total score of 381.90 points, good for second place.
Popovici, who was the penultimate diver in Round 4, had a chance to regain the lead with another complex dive, this time with a 5.8 degree of difficulty. However, his scores of 5.5, 5.5, and 5.0 from the judges weren't enough to overtake Paredes, and his total of 381.15 points put him in third place.
Popovici, who was the penultimate diver in Round 4, had a chance to regain the lead with another complex dive, this time with a 5.8 degree of difficulty. However, his scores of 5.5, 5.5, and 5.0 from the judges weren't enough to overtake Paredes, and his total of 381.15 points put him in third place.
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The day, however, belonged to Hunt, who sealed the deal with his final leap off the 27-meter platform and finished with 422.10 points.
The day, however, belonged to Hunt, who sealed the deal with his final leap off the 27-meter platform and finished with 422.10 points.
"The mindset was, do your own thing, try to block out everyone else, what everyone else is doing. I always try and enjoy what I'm doing," Hunt said of his mindset.
"The mindset was, do your own thing, try to block out everyone else, what everyone else is doing. I always try and enjoy what I'm doing," Hunt said of his mindset.
Hunt, who has won a stunning 10 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series titles, will now try for an unprecedented 11th as they head into the next three stops of the season. The competition will head to Polignano A Mare in Italy on June 28 to 29 for the second leg.
Hunt, who has won a stunning 10 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series titles, will now try for an unprecedented 11th as they head into the next three stops of the season. The competition will head to Polignano A Mare in Italy on June 28 to 29 for the second leg.
"I never thought I'd try and fight for the championship, but with a short season like this, we've only got four stops. If there's ever a time for someone like me to do it, this year is the one," said Hunt.
"I never thought I'd try and fight for the championship, but with a short season like this, we've only got four stops. If there's ever a time for someone like me to do it, this year is the one," said Hunt.
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