Maria Paula
Quintero
Colombia
·
Cliff Diving
Tanggal Lahir | 23 Juni 2000 |
|---|---|
Tempat Lahir | Cali |
Age | 25 |
Nationality | Colombia |
Karir dimulai | 2017 |
Disiplin | Cliff Diving |
Following a few up-and-down seasons, Maria Paula Quintero lost her permanent status for the second time last season and will once again compete as a wildcard in the 2025 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.
Despite still being only 24 years old, the Colombian has been around the cliff diving scene for the best part of a decade now. She was just 16 when she first attempted the 20m platform, hardly 17 during her first showing in the World Series and 18 when she claimed her first podium. “I saw Miguel and Orlando diving from the scaffolding they had built in the pool in Cali. That day it clicked, and I decided to go for it,” she recalls. “Miguel started coaching me and Orlando shared all his knowledge.”
In an attempt to explain this early imprinting, it needs to be stated here that said Miguel is her stepfather, high diving coach and World Series wildcard diver Miguel Garcia and the latter is the sport’s legend from Cali, Colombia, Orlando Duque.
Following in her role models’ footsteps, Quintero has already learned some pivotal lessons at an early stage in her career: “If you want something in your life, you have to make sacrifices. Nothing is free – I think these are really important things.” Word!
Having made her first leap from wildcard to permanent World Series athlete, thanks in big part to a stunning second-place finish in Polignano a Mare in 2019, the Colombian then enjoyed a solid season when cliff diving returned in 2021. Then, with travel restrictions removed, she was able to finally complete her first full season in 2022, appearing at all eight stops. But consistent competition didn’t equal consistent performances, and a season’s best 7th place in Paris wasn’t enough to prolong her stay in the permanent line-up.
In 2023, four progressive top eight finishes in four stops were enough to elevate her back into the permanent line-up, but last season a fourth place in Northern Ireland was to be the highlight of another inconsistent season and she drops back down to wildcard status for 2025.
Describing herself as ‘brave, happy and persistent’, Quintero will continue the quest for consistency this year.