Aidan
Heslop
United Kingdom
·
Cliff Diving
Date of birth | 18 April 2002 |
|---|---|
Place of birth | Chelmsford |
Age | 24 |
Nationality | United Kingdom |
Career start | 2018 |
Disciplines | Cliff Diving |
Having realised his dream in 2024 - putting two seasons of heartache as runner-up behind him to finally lay his hands on the King Kahekili Trophy – the 23-year-old was forced to sit out the entire 2025 season following back surgery to treat a herniated disc. “Recovery is going to be slow and probably a little dull, but it’s 100% the right decision,” he said last year, ahead of his surgery. “Taking a year off to secure another 15 pain-free seasons is a trade I’m willing to make.”
It's a trade that cliff diving fans around the world were happy to make, if it meant being able to see this prodigious athlete return to his brilliant best for many years to come.
One of the first “pure cliff divers” to come into the sport – his mind and body focused solely on the discipline from a young age – Heslop has reaped the rewards for his hard work, dedication and unwavering ambition.
Launching a cliff diving career
After making his debut at 16 in 2018 and landing his first podium just a year later in Bilbao, Heslop returned from the pandemic break a more developed and powerful athlete. He went on to secure permanent status for the 2022 season following some solid World Series results and a first high diving victory at the World Aquatics qualifier in Abu Dhabi.
Two victories in 2022 – including one at the season opener in Boston, where he became the youngest winner in history at the age of 20 – propelled Heslop to a runner-up spot behind Gary Hunt. It was a case of déjà vu in 2023, when back-to-back victories in Italy and Japan again brought up the genuine prospect of a first King Kahekili trophy, but his dream was to be ended this time around by the brilliance of Romania’s Popovici.
Crowned a world champion
But the Welshman – who speaks only one word of Welsh – wasn’t to be denied a third time as he overcame the pressure and heat of a three-way title fight with the Romanian and American James Lichtenstein to add the King Kahekili trophy to his World Aquatics World Championships title in 2024.
Fighting back from injury
In his absence last season, it was prolific champion Hunt who returned from his own cliff diving break to bag his 11th title at the age of 41. This year, exactly 12 months on from the day of his surgery, Heslop returns as a wildcard in Bali to kickstart his comeback.
Heslop’s surgery, recovery and ultimate return to the 27m platform can now be seen in a brand-new Red Bull TV documentary – 444 Days.
54 min
444 Days
Former World Series Champion, Aidan Heslop, faces the hardest comeback to reclaim his place at 27m.
Career Highlights
- 2024 -- Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Champion
- 2023 - 2nd Place Overall: Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
- 2022 - 2nd Place Overall: Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series