Southampton’s three-time Red Bull World Series champion Gary Hunt is eyeing a medal finish after a successful first day of competition at the FINA high dive championships in Barcelona.

Hunt, who is one of the favourites for the event after continuing to dominate the Red Bull World Series competition, was joint first with fellow World Series star Orlando Duque after they both scored 106.40 points with their opening dive from the 27-metre platform.

Hunt scored an almost identical result with his second dive, but others around him improved and he finished the day in fourth spot with 213.30pts, but just 4.10pts behind his Colombian rival Duque.

Hunt said: “I’m happy to be right in the game still.

“It’s all that I hoped for today, as my goal was to do two steady dives.

“I have more difficult dives than the three divers who are currently ahead of me, so with three good dives the gold medal is in my sights.

“I’ve been champion on the world tour for the last three years, so I’m here to do the same thing.”

Also involved in the event is former Olympic diver and partner of Tom Daley, Blake Aldridge, who once trained at the Quays in Southampton. He currently stands in eighth with 173.80 points.

The high dive is currently pushing to be an Olympic sport and the IOC-recognised FINA championships, run by the international swimming federation, gives the sport an opportunity to showcase the event.