HAMPSHIRE thrill-seeker Gary Hunt produced the most difficult dive in the history of diving.

But it was still not enough to see the five-times world champion get off to a winning start in the first round of the 2016 World Cliff Diving Series in Texas.

In fact, the Southampton-born Hunt didn’t even make the podium - finishing fourth.

Hunt’s former Southampton Academy Diving colleague Blake Aldridge claimed runners-up spot behind Mexican Jonathan Paredes.

Languishing down in 12th place, Hunt moved quickly up the list after pulling off his most impressive dive which has been over two years in the making - a front 3 somersaults with 4½ twists free, with a degree of difficulty of 6.4.

That was a higher difficulty than any other athlete in the first of nine events on the 2016 Cliff Diving calendar.

On a blazing day at Hell’s Gate, 12,000 fans sailed over to Possum Kingdom Lake to witness a truly amazing start to the new season.

Padre has the lowest degree of difficulty in the World Series, but his diving technique is immaculate.

The 26-year-old Mexican performed his final dive for four times the highest score (10) from the judges. Former Olympian Aldridge was just 0.35 points ahead of Czech World Series veteran Michal Navratil. Hunt and co’s next stop is Copenhagen, Denmark, in a fortnight’s time.