Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
He took up high diving in 2005, having competed in traditional diving since he was age six. |
Further Personal Information |
Residence |
Madrid, ESP |
General Interest |
Hero / Idol |
Colombian high diver Orlando Duque. (redbullcliffdiving.com, 17 Feb 2016) |
Further Personal Information |
Occupation |
Athlete |
Languages |
English, Spanish |
General Interest |
Nicknames |
Jonny (Facebook profile, 18 Jan 2017) |
Sporting philosophy / motto |
"If you lose all fear of what you are doing, you will lose respect for it. It's like driving a car while being drunk, you are not respecting your life any more, and that's not good. Of course you think of the risks on your way up, such as bone fractures or losing consciousness and being dragged under by the current. But once you get up there on the platform, everything is gone. It is just you and the platform." (hidrocalidodigital.com, 30 Jun 2019; maspormas.com, 09 Mar 2018) |
Further Personal Information |
Family |
Wife Noelia |
Sport Specific Information |
Why this sport? |
At age six he was enrolled into swimming lessons at a municipal swimming pool in Naucalpan, Mexico. "The divers always caught my attention, watching them doing all those spectacular twists." At age 15 he was invited to perform at a diving show in an amusement park in Mexico City, Mexico. Years later, Mexican diver Fernando Platas, one of those he used to watch in Naucalpan, invited him to perform in cliff diving events in Mexico. "I was so scared. I didn't know what to expect." |
General Interest |
Injuries |
He was affected by a leg injury [torn abductor muscle] in September 2021. He returned to competition in December 2021. (Instagram profile, 19 Dec 2021, 10 Sep 2021)
He has sustained minor injuries to his lower back, knees, and neck throughout his career. (excelsior.com.mx, 03 Jun 2019) |
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs |
Before a dive he crosses himself and counts down from three to one. (excelsior.com.mx, 03 Jun 2019) |
Other information |
AMUSEMENT PARK DIVING
In 2020, while all competitions were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he performed dives at an amusement park in Sevenum, Netherlands. "These shows give me the freedom to carry on practising my sport, not in a professional way but at least to a level that means I maintain my shape." (excelsior.com.mx, 15 Sep 2020)
OLYMPIC QUEST
He retains the hope that high diving will one day be included in the Olympic programme, even though it was rejected in December 2020 for inclusion as a demonstration sport at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. "Obviously that's the dream of all of us who are in any sport. The goal is to compete at the Olympic Games. I think we can do it and I'm sure we will because we are on the right path." (optionstheedge.com, 29 Apr 2021; reporteindigo.com, 06 Jan 2020)
BALLET TRAINING
He added ballet sessions to his training schedule in 2019. "I began doing ballet sessions after advice from my wife, who is a flamenco dancer. It helps me with flexibility, elasticity, and to have better alignment in my toes. Once I started it I realised how much in common diving has with dancing." (efe.com, 07 Dec 2019) |
Ambitions |
To win an Olympic medal in cliff diving. (excelsior.com.mx, 15 Sep 2020) |
Memorable sporting achievement |
Competing at Victoria Falls in Zambia. (excelsior.com.mx, 15 Sep 2020) |
