In the world of swimming there is the discipline of diving, Olympic since 1904, where at most athletes dive from 10-metre platforms. Out of the Olympic program, but included this year and for the first time in the paradigm of swimming world championships, in Barcelona from 19 July to 4 August, there are the so-called “diving from great heights“. In this case the athletes launch themselves from odds that start from 20 and come close to i 30 meters, but without saving in evolutions, pikes or twists.
Usually these are former divers participating in the classic circuit competitions or athletes from the world of gymnastics and in some cases even circus or water park acrobats. The launch pad can be natural or artificial. Any structure overlooking the water that has no underlying obstacles together with a depth of at least 4-5 meters as regards the body of water are a perfect competition field for what outside Italy is called "Cliff diving".
To support the huge expenses for the organization of the world stages of the competition is Red Bull, the energy drink brand that never misses an opportunity to sponsor extreme sports or feats. The management of such an event, in fact, sees the budget items "safety" and "first aid" in first and second place in terms of costs. For example, each dive is usually supervised by as many as four divers: two submerged and two on the surface, ready to intervene in case of problems.
This year, alongside i ten daredevils who have always participated in the circuit, will also be there five athletes admitted to the tender outside the normal rules of participation. Among these appears for the first time in the history of Red Bull Cliff Diving also an Italian, the 21 year old Alessandro De Rose, which also holds the record for youngest diver of the 2013 edition. The welcome surprise will also be female participation which will see six divers engaged in a competition reduced to 20 meters in height.
The promising young Italian is trained by the world champion, already a professional stuntman, Simone Bonelli. His diving career began at the age of 5 in the most classic way a Cosenza, then the death of his father, a forced stop from the competitions, the first "high" dive at the ZooMarine water park and now the great heights. In reality, Italy can boast the conquest of the World Cup twice, thanks to De Rose's coach. The circuit sponsored by Red Bull, on the other hand, has never seen the participation of Italian athletes despite the fact that the World Series has recently focused on Italy both in terms of choosing the most suggestive location on the whole circuit, and in choosing the technical and i.e. the clothing company for sports swimming “Sand“, based in Tolentino.
For the second time, after that of 2011, it will therefore be the natural springboard of Scaliger Castle of Malcesine to host the event, on 13 and 14 July. The jury will be composed of five international judges, led by Claudius de Miro, former Italian diving champion. Among them also the four-time Olympic medalist Greg Louganis.
Diving from great heights inevitably means taking into account some serious trauma. Sooner or later, during training or sometimes even in competition, you end up in the hospital. Concentration, physical preparation, courage and determination are essential during the approx three seconds of flight that separate the diver from entering the water. A small mistake pays dearly when traveling to speed between 80 and 90 km/h. Especially when the right position is lost.
The historical protagonist of the Red Bull diving events, the Colombian Orlando duque, explains: “From 27 meters you can't jump ten times in one day. More than a sport, ours is a way of life. You have to be a little crazy, but very lucid. We don't like to die, but to live and breathe from every pore. We don't hate opponents, on the contrary before jumping we hug each other".
Attachments: Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2013
