Gary Hunt
Gary Hunt (born 11 June 1984) is a French high diver and cliff diver of British origin, renowned as the greatest of all time (GOAT) in cliff diving due to his unparalleled dominance in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.[1][2][3] Born in London and raised in Leeds, Hunt displayed early gymnastic talent, including taking tap dancing lessons, before transitioning to 10-meter platform diving and eventually high diving from 27 meters.[3][2] He entered the professional cliff diving scene in 2009 at age 24, competing in the inaugural Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series event, and quickly established himself as a prodigy despite initial inexperience with heights over 27 meters.[3][4] Hunt's career highlights include 11 overall titles, 47 event victories, and 80 podium finishes across 104 Red Bull World Series competitions, feats that include pioneering a triple quad somersault, a running take-off, and achieving a perfect score of 10 across all judges.[2][3] In high diving under World Aquatics, he is a two-time world champion (2015, 2019) and five-time world medalist in the men's 27m event, with additional golds from four High Diving World Cups between 2016 and 2019, plus a silver at the 2024 World Championships in Doha to secure his fifth world medal overall.[5][6][7] Representing France since acquiring citizenship, Hunt made his Olympic debut at age 40 in Paris 2024, becoming the first diver since 1912 to compete in their Games debut at that age, where he placed eighth in the men's 10m synchronized platform alongside partner Lois Szymczak despite challenges with the "twisties" that limited dive complexity.[5][6] Post-Olympics, he retired from indoor diving but returned to cliff diving as a wildcard in the 2024 Red Bull series and won his 11th overall title in a full comeback during the 2025 season at age 41.[3][8][9]Early life and education
Childhood and family background
Gary Hunt was born on 11 June 1984 in London, England, and raised in Leeds, to parents Peter and Pamela. His father, Peter, worked at British Telecom. Hunt grew up in a supportive family environment, sharing a close bond with his two older sisters, Carolyn and Jeannette, who introduced him to physical activities and influenced his early involvement in swimming, ballet, tap dancing, and modern dancing.[10] From a young age, Hunt displayed a natural aptitude for physical pursuits, particularly gymnastics and handstands, where he excelled in local contests by holding the longest durations and earning awards for his skills. These innate talents, honed through family encouragement, laid the groundwork for his later athletic endeavors. His mother's dedication was instrumental during this period; she drove him to early morning training sessions beginning at age 9, often waiting in the car while he practiced. When Hunt was 16, his parents separated, prompting a relocation from Leeds to Southampton with his mother and sisters. This move marked a transitional phase in his upbringing, though the family remained closely knit, with Pamela continuing to provide unwavering support for his developing interests.Entry into sports and diving
Hunt began his involvement in competitive sports at age nine, initially following his two older sisters into swimming in a pool in Leeds, England. However, he soon grew bored with the repetitive strokes and lengths, prompting a shift after observing older children performing dives from the platform.[4] This fascination led him to beg his parents for permission to try diving himself, marking his entry into the sport.[4] To enhance his flexibility and balance for diving, Hunt trained in ballet, tap, and modern dancing during his childhood, activities he pursued alongside his sisters. His mother provided crucial support by driving him to early morning training sessions, often starting at 5 a.m. By age nine, he was training five times a week under coach Adrian Hinchliffe, who noted Hunt's quiet demeanor and natural aptitude, including exceptional handstand skills. He rapidly progressed from the 1-meter springboard to the 3-meter and eventually the 10-meter platform within a couple of years, reaching the latter by age 11, and began competing in national junior events by his early teens.[4] Later, Hunt attended Southampton Solent University (now Solent University) in Southampton, where he balanced studies with diving. During this period, he joined the Southampton Diving Academy, receiving structured training and spending hours analyzing videos of renowned divers to refine his technique. His family, particularly his mother, continued to offer logistical support for his rigorous schedule. At age 22 in 2006, Hunt gained his first exposure to high diving during a performance show at Lido di Jesolo in Italy, where he attempted dives from an 18-meter platform, adapting quickly despite the heightened risks.[4][11][12]Early competitive career
Platform diving and gymnastics
Gary Hunt's early competitive foundation in platform diving was deeply influenced by his childhood gymnastics training, which provided essential skills for executing complex somersaults and twists from the 10-meter platform.[4] As a young athlete, he trained in ballet, tap, and modern dance, developing exceptional flexibility and body control that translated directly into diving routines.[4] His proficiency in handstands, where he won contests for the longest holds, enhanced his aerial awareness and rotational power, allowing him to perform intricate maneuvers with precision during national-level competitions.[4] Hunt began competing in junior national UK diving events, specializing in both individual and synchronized 10-meter platform disciplines.[4] Drawing on his gymnastic background, he incorporated advanced flexibility elements into his dives, which helped him achieve early national rankings and secure multiple medals at Great Britain National Diving Championships.[4] His training at the Southampton Diving Academy from age 16 further honed these skills, emphasizing technical proficiency on the platform.[13] In his early 20s, Hunt abandoned his Olympic aspirations in platform diving after experiencing setbacks in selections, including a loss to a 12-year-old Tom Daley and an 11-year-old Jack Laugher at a British Championship.[13] These defeats highlighted the intense competition from younger talents, prompting him to shift focus away from standard platform events.[13] By the mid-2000s, leveraging his innate gymnastic flair and platform experience, Hunt transitioned to higher-risk disciplines that better suited his fearlessness and physical limits.[14]Commonwealth Games participation
Hunt represented England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, competing in the men's synchronized 10 metre platform event alongside partner Callum Johnstone.[15][16] The pair executed a series of dives that highlighted their coordination, culminating in a total score of 404.82 points to secure third place and the bronze medal, behind Australia's Matthew Helm and Robert Newbery (440.58) and Malaysia's Bryan Nickson Lomas and James Sandayud (427.44).[15][16] This competition, held on 24 March 2006 at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, marked Hunt's debut on the major international stage at the age of 21.[4] The achievement provided a significant confidence boost, validating his platform diving skills amid emerging competition from younger athletes like Tom Daley, though Hunt chose not to pursue traditional Olympic qualification pathways.[4] Following the Games, Hunt began investigating alternative diving formats, drawn to the emerging discipline of high diving in Europe. This exploration led to his high diving debut in Jesolo in 2006 as part of a show, partnering with American diver Steve Black, where he first jumped from 18 meters and initiating a pivotal shift in his career toward cliff and high diving.[10][4]High diving career
World Championships results
Gary Hunt made his debut in the men's 27m high diving event at the FINA World Championships in 2013, held in Barcelona, Spain, where he secured the silver medal with a total score of 589.30 points, demonstrating strong consistency across his dives despite finishing just behind Colombia's Orlando Duque.[17] His performance highlighted precise execution under pressure, as he remained competitive throughout the rounds but could not overtake the gold medalist in the final dives.[18] In 2015, at the World Championships in Kazan, Russia, Hunt claimed the gold medal with a commanding total of 629.30 points, clinching the victory through a standout final dive scoring 139.20 points that established a 33.30-point lead over Mexico's Jonathan Paredes.[19] This win marked his first world title in the discipline, showcasing his ability to build and maintain a substantial advantage in the later stages of competition.[20] Hunt defended his title successfully at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, earning gold with a total score of 442.20 points after overcoming a 27-point deficit entering the final round.[21] His dramatic comeback was powered by a flawless final dive—a back 3 somersaults with 4 twists—that earned perfect 10s from five of seven judges, scoring 156.00 points and propelling him ahead of the United States' Steve LoBue.[22] At the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, Hunt won silver with 413.25 points, finishing behind Great Britain's Aidan Heslop after a strong performance that included a high-scoring quad-twisting triple somersault in the final.[7][23] Over his career, Hunt has amassed two gold medals and two silver medals in the men's 27m high diving at the FINA/World Aquatics Championships, establishing him as the most successful male competitor in the history of this FINA-recognized event.[24]| Year | Location | Medal | Total Score | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Barcelona, Spain | Silver | 589.30 | Strong consistency across rounds |
| 2015 | Kazan, Russia | Gold | 629.30 | Final dive: 139.20 points (33.30-point lead) |
| 2019 | Gwangju, South Korea | Gold | 442.20 | Overcame 27-point deficit; final dive: 156.00 points (perfect 10s from 5/7 judges) |
| 2024 | Doha, Qatar | Silver | 413.25 | Strong final dive but finished behind Aidan Heslop |