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American Carlton wins the 1st Women's High Dive world title - Universal Sports
Plunging from 20 metres into Barcelona’s harbour, Carlton wins high-diving gold
thespec.com
7/30/2013
Excerpt:
BARCELONA, Spain Cesilie Carlton plunged the equivalent of seven storeys into the murky waters of Barcelona's harbour.
When the American resurfaced, she had won the inaugural gold medal in the extreme sport of high diving at the swimming world championships.
Not bad for someone who is afraid of heights — and flying.
Carlton and teammate Ginger Huber finished 1-2 in the 20-metre platform competition Tuesday in an event that swimming governing body FINA hopes will push aquatics into the X-Games age.
Previously, the highest anyone jumped from in a FINA competition was the 10-metre platform in pool diving.
This event literally brings the sport to new heights.
"I'm afraid of heights," Carlton said. "That's why I go very quickly. I don't look down for a long time. But I know that I have control of what I'm doing.
"The toughest part is looking over," she added.
Leaping from a temporary platform with thousands of fans watching from the shoreline, Carlton impressed the judges with her final dive, a triple half pike, and moved up from third after the second of three rounds.
Carlton won gold with a total of 211.60 points, Huber had 206.70 and Anna Bader of Germany took bronze with 203.90.
Stephanie De Lima of Montreal placed fourth at 182.55.
"My last two dives were probably the best two I've ever done in my life," said De Lima, 25, who has been high diving for seven years. "It was a magical experience for me with the crowd and the opportunity to compete in front of my parents."
Only six women competed.
The men's competition, off 27 metres, concludes Wednesday.
There was one scary moment when Diana Tomilina of Ukraine, who finished sixth, nearly lost her balance when preparing a back dive. Standing at the edge of the platform with her back to the water, she had to stick one leg out over the edge to regroup.
Carlton had no such problems.
"Up here, I'm really in control and aware of what I'm doing," she said. "So I don't really consider it too much of a risk because it's pretty calculated."
The 32-year-old Carlton works in the Chinese gambling city Macau as a performer in a show called City of Dreams in the House of Dancing Water. She's from San Antonio, Texas.
"I would have never thought that I would have done high diving," Carlton said. "My husband was a high diver and the first time he told me he was a high diver I said, 'You are crazy. Why would you want to jump off of something that high? That's insane.' And a couple years go by and I'm doing it. So it's thanks to him that I'm doing it.
"He's coached me through and pushed me," Carlton added.
...................................
View the complete article at:
http://www.thespec.com/sports-story/...h-diving-gold/
Plunging from 20 metres into Barcelona’s harbour, Carlton wins high-diving gold
thespec.com
7/30/2013
Excerpt:
BARCELONA, Spain Cesilie Carlton plunged the equivalent of seven storeys into the murky waters of Barcelona's harbour.
When the American resurfaced, she had won the inaugural gold medal in the extreme sport of high diving at the swimming world championships.
Not bad for someone who is afraid of heights — and flying.
Carlton and teammate Ginger Huber finished 1-2 in the 20-metre platform competition Tuesday in an event that swimming governing body FINA hopes will push aquatics into the X-Games age.
Previously, the highest anyone jumped from in a FINA competition was the 10-metre platform in pool diving.
This event literally brings the sport to new heights.
"I'm afraid of heights," Carlton said. "That's why I go very quickly. I don't look down for a long time. But I know that I have control of what I'm doing.
"The toughest part is looking over," she added.
Leaping from a temporary platform with thousands of fans watching from the shoreline, Carlton impressed the judges with her final dive, a triple half pike, and moved up from third after the second of three rounds.
Carlton won gold with a total of 211.60 points, Huber had 206.70 and Anna Bader of Germany took bronze with 203.90.
Stephanie De Lima of Montreal placed fourth at 182.55.
"My last two dives were probably the best two I've ever done in my life," said De Lima, 25, who has been high diving for seven years. "It was a magical experience for me with the crowd and the opportunity to compete in front of my parents."
Only six women competed.
The men's competition, off 27 metres, concludes Wednesday.
There was one scary moment when Diana Tomilina of Ukraine, who finished sixth, nearly lost her balance when preparing a back dive. Standing at the edge of the platform with her back to the water, she had to stick one leg out over the edge to regroup.
Carlton had no such problems.
"Up here, I'm really in control and aware of what I'm doing," she said. "So I don't really consider it too much of a risk because it's pretty calculated."
The 32-year-old Carlton works in the Chinese gambling city Macau as a performer in a show called City of Dreams in the House of Dancing Water. She's from San Antonio, Texas.
"I would have never thought that I would have done high diving," Carlton said. "My husband was a high diver and the first time he told me he was a high diver I said, 'You are crazy. Why would you want to jump off of something that high? That's insane.' And a couple years go by and I'm doing it. So it's thanks to him that I'm doing it.
"He's coached me through and pushed me," Carlton added.
...................................
View the complete article at:
http://www.thespec.com/sports-story/...h-diving-gold/