Kosovo Bridge Divers Overcome Worry to ‘Fly’ in Annual Competitors

URA E FSHEJT, Kosovo (Reuters) – With arms outstretched like hen’s wings within the conventional “swallow type”, Evald Krnic plunged greater than 20 metres from a bridge in southern Kosovo into the chilly White Drin river.

“You do not simply soar; you fly,” he advised Reuters after successful first place within the bridge-diving competitors, an annual occasion held for the previous 73 years and drawing each amateurs and professionals.

“The first emotion is that of being alive. In the event you’re not afraid, you’ll be able to’t soar, as there is no adrenaline rush, and also you would possibly find yourself making errors that would result in accidents,” Krnic mentioned. “The fantastic thing about this sport lies in conquering that concern and taking the leap.”

Krnic was additionally the winner final yr within the Bosnian city of Mostar the place he jumped 22 meters from an outdated bridge into the river beneath.

Florid Gashi, who has gained first prize in years previous, additionally mentioned the concern makes the game so thrilling: “The second that you’re out of the water and you aren’t harm that’s the greatest factor.”

(Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Modifying by Peter Graff)

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