Now convalescing at home following successful ankle surgery, Orlando Duque speaks about the injury that has ended his season prematurely and his hopes for a comeback.
Duque, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Champion 2009 who had had a perfect start to 2011 with two wins out of two, underwent ankle surgery last week. The Colombian was injured during a skydive in Hawaii but has not ruled out a return to competitive diving before the end of this year.
'I hope I can come back in 2011 and if not be really strong for 2012'
"It sucks that this injury stops me from continuing in the 2011 Series," said Duque. "I had a great start and was looking forward to keeping it that way. However accidents happen and now that it has happened to me I just need to make sure that all my energy is dedicated to getting better.
"I hope that I can come back towards the end of the 2011 season and if not be really strong for 2012."
The ankle is a vital part of a diver's anatomy so the 36-year-old is determined not to rush his recovery.
"I'm very aware of the fact that I've broken my ankle and that the foot is a very important part throughout the whole dive. I need it to be strong for take off, in the air and most importantly for landing. I have to make sure that my ankle is going to be as strong as it was before. Only then I can try diving from anything higher than 20 metres."
The 2011 World Series will continue without Duque in Greece on May 22.
At Lake Vouliagmeni, a stone's throw from the Greek capital, Athens, and the same place where Duque was crowned champion in 2009, Gary Hunt, Artem Silchenko and Slava Polyeshchuk will be among those fighting for victory in front of an especially limited number of 5,000 spectators.
Want more?
© Red Bull Cliff Diving
Comments
Add a comment