We caught up with the Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, native following the breathtaking high diving competition. Gimeno reflected on his dives, climbing back onto the podium, his lifelong connection to cliff diving, and shared his vision for the sport's future.

You had a strong performance here in Porto Flavia. Can you take us through what was going through your mind during your final dive?

After my third round, I was sitting in fourth position, so I knew my last dive was really important. My other three dives hadn’t had clean entries, and I told myself, “I can’t leave this place without at least one really good, clean dive.” So when I finally saw the scores—eight-and-a-halves and even a nine—I thought, “Yes, finally I cleaned the entry.”

Yesterday the ocean was a bit wavy and I struggled to get clean entries, so today that made it even more satisfying. I also knew I was only a few points away from the podium—four points from one diver and eight from another. So I said to myself, “If I hit this entry, I’ll put pressure on them.” And in the end it worked—I climbed up into third place.

That’s the classic sports dynamic, isn't it? Gold is ecstatic, bronze is happy, and silver - despite a largely great performance - can often feel frustrated and lament where gold was lost at. Was that how it felt for you today?

Exactly. Sometimes second can feel harder than third. If you drop from first to second, it feels like a loss. But to climb from fourth into third? That feels like a real achievement. That's how I feel today.

You’ve competed here before—what does Porto Flavia mean to you personally?

 I love this location. I won here last year, so I already knew the atmosphere, the people, the cliffs, the ocean—it feels like home. I grew up in the Canary Islands, spending summers by the beach with my parents. They had a camper, and I was always cliff jumping, fishing, playing in the sea. That’s where my passion started.

So to dive here, surrounded by cliffs and the ocean, it connects me back to that. For me, Porto Flavia is the perfect place to dive.

This venue is unique—you even walk through a tunnel to reach the platform. Does that set the stage mentally for you?

It’s special. It’s something new, something unexpected. Walking through the tunnel, even wearing the helmet, and then stepping out onto the cliff—it makes it feel like an adventure. And then you come out and see the sea and the little island in front of you—it’s amazing. For me, this place, this event, couldn’t be better.

Afterwards, all the high divers landed at the beach for the awards podium. The fans seemed really ecstatic and appreciative of all the competitors. 

Yes, it was great. The people were so appreciative, giving high fives, cheering us on. That connection with the crowd makes it really special.

From your perspective, how important are competitions like this for the future of high diving?

Very important. When we compete in locations like this—with cliffs, the sea, and the whole experience—it’s something audiences really love. It helps the sport grow, because it’s not just about the dives; it’s about the atmosphere and the show.

This has been a strong season for you. What have you learned about yourself?

I knew this year I had two chances to reach my biggest goals—the World Championship in Singapore and the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. So I trained harder than ever. Not just physically, but mentally, and also really dialled in my diet. The most important has been the meditation.

This has helped me find the right focus and then stay in this right state of mind for every single moment, every single day of the competition.

And finally, what’s next for you?

I’m currently second in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. We have two competitions left—one in Mostar and then the final in Boston. So my goal is clear: I want to become the world champion there.

Parting Shot