NASUGBU, Batangas—Standing on the edge of the cliff, Jan Wilko Heinzel just couldn’t help but feel nervous with sweat running down his spine.
But the German again conquered his fear of heights and ruled the men’s open category of the 5th Club Punta Fuego and Rider Cliff Diving International Challenge Saturday.
“Yes, I’m scared of heights and I fight this feeling when I’m at the top [of a cliff],” said Heinzel after compiling a winning score of 336.3 points.
Heinzel’s winning dive—a triple front flip somersault and one-and-a-half twist from a 20-foot high platform—got the biggest applause from the crowd in the event also attended by world-class divers from Russia, Switzerland, Indonesia and the US.
“I’m always nervous. But the moment I performed with a good dive, it’s just an amazing feeling that nothing in this world can surpass it,” said Heinzel, a hospital orderly and meteorology student in Hannover.
Andreas Hulliger of Switzerland placed second with 314.3 points and Filipino diver Zardo Domenios finished third (309.75) among six competitors.
“So far, this is my best finish in an international diving tournament outside of Southeast Asia,” said Domenios, a former national team member.
Genevive Bradley from Hawaii topped the women’s open category.