Briton closes gap in Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series men’s standings while Australian extends title lead.
July 20, 2024
Aidan Heslop won back in Great Britain on Saturday at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series stop in Northern Ireland as Australian Rhiannan Iffland cruised to victory at the fourth 2024 event – both winning by a huge margin on the Causeway Coast.
– With two rounds directly off the rugged cliffs and two off the platforms, Heslop excelled in the cold, wet and windy conditions, and victory never looked in doubt following his superb third round dive – a Forward 4 Somersaults 3½ Twists Pike for which he earned 151.05 points.
– The Briton followed up with an equally impressive effort in the final round to cut American James Lichtenstein’s title lead to two points with fellow rival Romanian Constantin Popovici second on the day.
– Heslop, who has finished title runner-up in the last two season, said: “I’m so happy. I have a few wins under my belt, but this is my first home win and hopefully I can bag a few more. It hasn’t been the best weather over the past few days, so I think I had a little bit of an advantage there being a Brit. I was in a good headspace all day.”
– Lichtenstein continued his consistent streak to collect a fourth podium spot in four stops this season, maintaining his position atop the overall leaderboard, however Popovici and Heslop – both with two wins each now this season – sit just one and two points behind him respectively.
– Reigning seven-time champion Iffland, 32, picked up 9.0s in each of the first three rounds before a huge Back 3 Somersaults 2 Twists Pike in the final round sealed a comprehensive victory over Ginni van Katwijk of the Netherlands, who herself claimed a career-best second place.
– Iffland now leads Molly Carlson overall by 19 points with the Canadian completing the women’s top three at this first ever stop in Northern Ireland as American Kaylea Arnett stays in third overall.
– After picking up an extra point for the best dive, Iffland said: “I’m just getting onto a roll in competitions now and really tapping into that good place when I’m standing up there before the dives. I’m not going to slow down between now and the next stop. I’m really looking forward to it.”
– Despite the difficult conditions that accompany cliff diving competition in this part of the world, Spain’s Paula Gilabert and Pierrick Schafer of Switzerland made their debuts, while Great Britain’s Archie Biggin became the youngest diver ever to compete in the sport aged just 16.
– The world’s best cliff divers now enjoy a three-week break before they head to Oslo, Norway on August 8-10 for the second half of the season from the longest platform in World Series history.
Men’s result
1. Aidan Heslop GBR 441.65 points
2. Constantin Popovici ROU 395.55
3. James Lichtenstein USA 281.35
2024 men’s standings (after 4 of 8 events)
1. James Lichtenstein USA 59 points
2. Constantin Popovici ROU 58
3. Aidan Heslop GBR 57
Women’s result
1. Rhiannan Iffland AUS 371.90 points
2. Ginni Van Katwijk (W) NED 325.30
3. Molly Carlson CAN 322.30
2024 women’s standings (after 4 of 8 events)
1. Rhiannan Iffland AUS 78 points
2. Molly Carlson CAN 59
3. Kaylea Arnett (W) USA 33