The Cliff Diving Tsar
Is it true that Russians are afraid of nothing? Legends say they used to kill bears with their bare hands but who knows... a little bit more traceable is Artem Silchenko’s story.
Born in Russia’s south west, the 26-year-old moved to China five years ago to start his high diving career. He didn’t only fall in love with the feeling of flying, but also with one of the 'aqua belles' in the diving show. The synchronised swimmer is mother of his little daughter and the couple married a week before his maiden win in Antalya last August.
Over the years, the quiet Russian has become one of the heavyweights of cliff diving – he won the world championships in 2006 at the age of only 21 and became famous for his great diving technique and his daredevil attitude. "The difference between 24m and 28m is not so big – the only thing is that time gets very short for everything at a height of 24m. 28m is much better because you have enough time to make all the twists and somersaults. But you can't make a mistake at this height because it’s already very dangerous for your body. 26m is the optimal height – you can control your body, even in the water. However I like 30m as well, it’s just a little bit more difficult to handle and when you enter the water you really feel the full power of the impact."
With two victories to his name in 2009, Artem finished in an impressive third position in the overall rankings and is a major contender for this year's title.
