At Poseidon’s temple, series leader Orlando Duque (COL) and second-placed Gary Hunt (GBR) asked for divine support for the very last stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2009 at Lake Vouliagmeni in Athens. Both divers are separated by only 9pts and are still battling for the overall title. If the god of the sea was impressed by their helicopter dive, whom he prefers can be witnessed in the late afternoon of September 20.
Poseidon’s temple was built at the shore overlooking the Aegean Sea, and the historic ruins were background for a 21m synchronised helicopter dive before the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series showdown in the Hellenic capital.
“We love this sport so much that it’s really cool to do these dives together,” said Hunt. “We are not rivals today, but we’ll be rivals in the competition on Sunday.
“We both have the chance to win and either one of us wants the title. We have to stay focused to beat the other, and the better one will win!” Duque added.
After seven competitions, the fight for the overall title has never been closer. Twenty-five-year-old Hunt has steadily narrowed down Duque’s 22pts lead, bringing the margin down to nine. The Englishman is the only diver still in contention for the first championship title besides the Colombian, who has been leading since the third stop in Dubrovnik, on July 11. The grand finale is hosted in the cradle of competitive sports.
The amazing location around Lake Vouliagmeni, only a stone’s throw away from the city centre, is a freshwater lake famous for its healing properties and associated with many legends and mystic stories about voracious creatures, dangerous whirlpools and hidden treasures. To the athletes’ joy, the average annual temperature in the water is a pleasant 24 degrees. As an additional challenge for the cliff diving elite, the competition from the 26m platform will be held in the late afternoon.
Add a comment
Comments