Rhian Iffland and Aidan Heslop win

Polignano e Mare – Between sea and poetry, blue sky and crystal clear water, in Polignano you always breathe a magical and timeless air. For the tenth time, the most iconic stage of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series plays host to the world’s most famous high diving competition. This small town with beautiful cliffs overlooking the Adriatic Sea yesterday welcomed 40,000 Italian and foreign fans, who came to take part in what has become a tradition, an unforgettable show. Consecutive win weeks at Polignano a Mare from 2017 to date – with a double win in 2021 – for Australian Rihanna Ifland, unbeatable and impeccable in her dive from the 21m platform overlooking the sea.

Ifland, a six-time world champion, toppled Canada’s Molly Carlson from the 21-metre platform. The Australians earned their 23rd win in the last 24 rounds of the World Series. Thanks to the tenacity and persistence of Molly Carlsen, the fight for the women’s title is still alive: 130 points separate the first two in the general standings and with three stages left, everything is still open. Australian Xanthia Penici completed the women’s podium and, after missing the Paris round due to injury, picked up where she left off with another third place in Boston.

In his second season as a permanent diver, young Briton Adrian Heslop, who started the day in tenth position, moved into the top three thanks to a stunning third-round dive from a 27-metre-high platform. Then landing a forward 4 somersaults 3½ twists pike, the 21-year-old surged into the lead. The win followed his worst result in five years – a ninth place in Paris two weeks ago – and saw him move from sixth to second in the general standings. Romanian Constantin Popovici leads the standings by 200 points thanks to his second place in Polignano. Her compatriot Caitlin Preda completed the Italian podium in third place.

Meanwhile, defending champion Garry Hunt officially has his worst start to the season so far. The Frenchman finished eighth here in Polignano after two-quarters in Boston and Paris.

The day of competition began with a greeting dive by the Italian athlete Alessandro De Rose, who was well-liked by the people of Polignano and this year was out of competition as he recovered from injury. On his 31st birthday, De Rose wanted to celebrate by giving Italian fans an unscheduled dive here in Polignano, commemorating his 2017 victory. “Today I blow out the candles and do what I love most: diving into the blue sea of ​​Polignano. This place is special to me and gives me incredible strength every time. Happy Birthday to me and Happy B-Dive to Polignano!”.

two blue wildcards – 2002-born Elisa Cosetti, competing for the third year in Polignano, and twenty-two-year-old Davide Baraldi, making their second appearance in the World Series in the Italian stage, reached eighth and twelfth places respectively. In this regard, Elisa Cosetti says: “It is always exciting to dive here, not only because my family is always there, but also because of the warmth that only the Italian public can give. I’ve put my all into it and can’t wait to go to Japan to continue performing and challenging myself.”

Davide Baraldi comments: “I did my best and I am very satisfied. The diving today in Polignano was amazing! Now my aim is to move forward and gain more and more confidence. I hope to perform with the full Italian team next year, it would be a dream!”

After three stages in the last four weeks, the athletes will now enjoy a break to rest and regain energy before flying to the land of the rising sun for the stage on August 3, where the World Swimming Championships will also take place a few days earlier. , Seven years after the first Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at the Shirahama Cliffs in Japan, divers will dive into the beautiful scenery of Takachiho Gorge in Miyazaki Prefecture.