Gary Hunt has made his first podium at this year's Red Bull Cliff Diving Series.
The third event of the 2018 series was held in the Azores, Portugal and saw Hunt, the six times series champion finish third behind Americans Steve LoBue and David Colturi. It is his highest finish of the series so far.
It was Hunt's
signature ‘triple quad’ that propelled him back into
the top three, after admitting he had to deal with a mental block in his twisting dives
at the start of this season.
Blake Aldridge came in 12th.
Wildcard Jessica Macauley, Britain's first ever female medal winner in the series, came in fifth overall but is still ranked third across the whole series.
More than 1,000 spectators came to watch the cliff-side competition, many viewing from kayaks.
Results - Stop #3,
Azores | POR
MEN
1- Steven LoBue USA - 405.35pts
2- David Colturi USA – 404.80
3- Gary Hunt GBR - 400.20
4- Michal Navratil CZE – 369.55
5- Kris Kolanus POL - 360.55
6- Jonathan Paredes MEX - 358.20
7- Andy Jones USA – 357.85
8- Nikita Fedotov (W) RUS – 292.15
9- Slavik Kolesnikov (W) UKR - 287.80
10- Viktar Maslouski (W) BLR – 280.55
11- Sergio Guzman (W) MEX – 229.05
12- Blake Aldridge GBR – 221.70
13- Alessandro De Rose ITA - 189.85
14- Orlando Duque COL – DNS
WOMEN
1- Rhiannan Iffland AUS – 324.95pts
2- Adriana Jimenez MEX – 294.30
3- Lysanne Richard CAN – 285.80
4- Yana Nestsiarava BLR – 281.30
5- Jessica Macaulay (W) GBR – 280.30
6- Ginger Huber USA – 255.80
7- Anna Bader GER – 252.40
8- Antonina Vyshyvanova (W) UKR – 248.00
9- Jacqueline Valente (W) BRA – 241.10
10- Eleanor Townsend Smart (W) USA – 172.90
Standings (after 3 of 7 stops)
MEN
1- Steven LoBue USA – 470pts
2- Michal Navratil CZE – 360
3- David Colturi USA - 330
4- Kris Kolanus POL – 310
5- Jonathan Paredes MEX - 260
6- Blake Aldridge GBR - 250
7- Andy Jones USA – 220
8- Gary Hunt GBR – 210
9- Alessandro De Rose ITA - 139
10- Sergio Guzman (W) MEX – 110
Standings (after 2 of 5 stops)
WOMEN
1- Adriana Jimenez MEX – 360pts
2- Rhiannan Iffland AUS – 310
3- Jessica Macaulay (W) GBR – 250
4- Lysanne Richard CAN - 220
5- Anna Bader GER - 190
6- Yana Nestsiarava BLR - 180
7- Ginger Huber USA – 130
8- Eleanor Townsend Smart (W) USA – 70
9- Maria Paula Quintero (W) COL - 50
9- Antonina Vyshyvanova (W) UKR – 50