Orlando
Duque
Colombia
·
High Diving
Date of birth | 11 September 1974 |
|---|---|
Place of birth | Cali, Colombia |
Age | 51 |
Nationality | Colombia |
Career start | 2009 |
Disciplines | Cliff Diving |
Orlando Duque started out diving in swimming pools but quickly became tired of the regimented scene. Diving off cliffs seemed more of a challenge!
Championship wins
With an extraordinary natural talent, Orlando has won 13 world titles in total: nine Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series events, FINA High Diving World Champion (2013), FINA High Diving World Cup winner twice (2014 and 2015) and the first ever overall champion of Red Bull Cliff Diving.
The Duke has also been immortalised in the film 9 Dives, which includes the highest jump of his career to date: a 34m descent off a bridge in Italy.
Scoring a perfect 10
On top of that, Orlando has made it into the Guinness Book of World Records on two occasions, one of them when he achieved a perfect 10 at the 2000 World Championships. When not leaping from the world’s gnarliest cliffs, Orlando lives in Hawaii.
He retired from competing in the Red Bull Cliff Diving Word Series in 2019 after an emotional farewell performance at the season finale in Bilbao, Spain – but his involvement with the Series isn't over yet as he is now the Sports Director.
Orlando Duque in action in Konjic, Bosnia And Herzegovina
© Predrag Vuckovic/Red Bull Content Pool
Orlando Duque and Jonathan Paredes dive from Victoria Falls
© Samo Vidic/Red Bull Content Pool
Orlando Duque finally got to compete in Colombia
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Orlando Duque found a classic spot for a dive
© Samo Vidic/Red Bull Content Pool