Cliff Diver Jonathan Paredes, 26, from Mexico City is eager to extend his lead as he reaches for perfection in this year's 2016 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. The World Series picks up again for its third stop of the competition Saturday at the Portuguese Azores.
Known as the "Princess Ring" by locals, the rock formation in the Azores is in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean from which divers leap at almost three times the Olympic height. The location has been proved to be a tournament favorite as this will be the fifth consecutive year that Red Bull athletes will be propelling themselves into water off the extravagant cliffs.
Paredes has yet to go home victorious from this location but looks to impress the world as he is proving that he is definitely one of the athletes to watch out for this season.
In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Paredes reflected on his childhood and how growing up in Mexico where there are many schools for Cliff Diving, he took his first lead at 6 years old.
"I started the sport as a high-diver in a park attraction, where I did diving shows for 5 years in Mexico." In 2011, Paredes was invited for the first time to compete at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Acapulco.
"It was an amazing experience that I was able to share with all these legends that I used to only see on TV, It was a dream come true," he said.
Five years later and now at the top of the sport, Paredes thanked his school, "I am proud to have been at one of the best schools in the world of diving."
We look forward to seeing Paredes and other Latino's compete during the third stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Portugal.