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Orlando Duque Captures Red Bull Cliff Diving World Tour Championship at Sport's Birthplace in Lana'i, HI
- World's 11 Best Cliff Divers Leaped For $30,000 Purse -
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Homage to The Gods | About Kaunolu | Dustin Webster | Event Summary
[Event Summary: Final Results]
Lana'i, HI, August 26, 2000 - Orlando Duque, of Oahu, Hawaii, unleashed an electrifying double back somersault with four twists that earned perfect 10's from all seven judges and captured a victory in the $30,000 Red Bull World Tour Finals here today. It was the first perfect score ever registered in cliff diving, which made a triumphant return to its birthplace on the sacred ground of Kahekili 's 78-foot leap.
The Colombian-born Duque, 26, was well aware of the significance of today's event, which was held on the same rock outcrop where warriors proved their courage and honor to the Gods thousands of years ago. Prior to the championship, he consulted with a Hawaiian priest, and asked for forgiveness for stepping on to sacred ground.
"I studied the history of cliff diving, and I did what I thought was appropriate before stepping on to these rocks," Duque said. "When I got up there today, I felt like there was another presence up there, like there was someone watching over me."
Duque went on to post the highest scores in two out of three rounds for a total of 404.76 points to capture the $10,000 first place prize. Dustin Webster, of San Diego, CA, was second ($5,500), and Todd Michael, of Bensalem, PA, was third ($4,000). A total of eleven of the world's best divers participated in the event after qualifying at the first two events on the world tour, which were held in Dubrovnik, Croatia (May 22) and Brontallo, Swtizerland (July 22). Duque swept all three events.
Duque said he knew from the moment he left the hallowed cliffs for his final dive that victory was in hand. "I was really happy with my first two dives, but when I took off for the third, I just felt stronger than I ever have," Duque revealed. "Everything came together perfectly."
According to officials with the World High Diving Federation (WHDF), the sport's governing body, today's performances propelled the sport to new heights. "I don't know if it was the spirit of the gods, or something in these royal waters, but this was the highest level of diving that I have ever seen," said Frederic Weill, co-founder of the WHDF. Today, these highly skilled athletes followed in the footsteps of the sport's forefathers by using a high degree of concentration and technique to enter the water at speeds of over sixty mph. "These divers paid the location the respect that it deserved and it really showed in their performances today."
Media Inquiries: Ted Fragulis or Rob Bronfeld at 212-714-1280.
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