Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
Polignano a Mare, Italy
28 – 29 June 2025
Watch Replay on Red Bull TV
LIVE: Cliff Diving Polignano a Mare
Sun, 29 June 2025
Saturday evening set the scene for the 13th instalment of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Polignano a Mare, the second of four high-stakes stops on the 2025 calendar and the first real pressure cooker event of the season.
01
Location
Perched on the rugged cliffs of Puglia, 24 of the world’s top divers faced fierce winds and unpredictable seas below. 35,000 fans lined the cliffs, rooftops, and balconies, fuelling every dive with a wave of noise and adrenaline. Against the picture-perfect backdrop of the Adriatic Sea, the world's best faced unforgiving conditions, launching from gusty platforms and a private balcony. Battling the elements, the divers chased perfection and podiums, and for one weekend turned Polignano’s dramatic coast into the ultimate stage for high-stakes aerial artistry.
02
Who won?
Australian legend Rhiannan Iffland took her second victory of the 2025 season and secured her ninth win in Polignano a Mare in the 60th women's World Series competition, while Spain’s Carlos Gimeno scored his second ever World Series win in the men's final.
"My main goal today was to focus on the technique and not let the weather affect me – control the controllables and not worry about anything else," Iffland stated. After taking her ninth Polignano a Mare victory, the defending World Series champion appeared relieved to have maintained her lead in the 2025 overall standings.
"The pressure is definitely building, it’s always there,” she commented. "I think the main thing is it's getting harder and harder to hold on to that. Each competition I come to it gets exhausting to hold onto that pressure. I always have to take a step back and realise why I started this sport in the beginning… to come and dive in amazing places like this [Polignno]. That definitely helps to keep driving me."
Simone Leathead, Rhiannan Iffland, Lisa Faulkner
© Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
Carlos Gimeno beat Gary Hunt and Jonathan Paredes in the Men's final
© Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
An amped Carlos Gimeno celebrated his win as he emerged triumphant from the Adriatic, unable and unwilling to wipe a huge smile from his face. "I've been working very hard for this competition and I did everything right. I'm in the best shape in my life. I can tell you that makes all the difference," he said after the judge’s scores were in.
"When you really believe in yourself, when you work out every day and you give everything in your training every day – even when some people doubt you – you’re always going to reach your dream. And this is a dream come true. Look at these beautiful people here in Polignano a Mare. This is one of the biggest events of the year and I couldn't be more happy than this. This is one of the best moments in my life, for sure. I’m going to enjoy it now!"
Iffland’s back to back victories in El Nido and Polignano a Mare means the defending King Kahekili trophy winner maintains top spot in the women's season rankings, now followed by Simone Leathead. Meanwhile, Gary Hunt’s second place finish in Italy means the French diver and 10-time World Series champion retains his lead overall in the men's category, followed by Polignano winner Carlos Gimeno and Mexico’s Jonathan Paredes tied in second.
03
What went down on Day 1 in Polignano a Mare?
The women were first to face the gusty winds whipping off the Adriatic, launching from the 21m platform in Round 1. Before the first diver even touched the water however, the leaderboard was shaken up following the warm up dives.
Canada’s Molly Carlson, a familiar fixture on the podium, withdrew from competition early Saturday after slipping during her training dive on Friday. Her absence – along with that of reigning King Kahekili trophy holder Aidan Heslop, who's still sidelined after back surgery – cranked up the heat before anyone had even stepped on the platform.
The always stunning Polignano a Mare
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Cosetti inches closer to home victory
Opening the action, French wildcard Madeleine Bayon took the plunge with poise and power. Her Intermediate dive – a category capped at 3.4 Degree of Difficulty – showed off her gymnastic roots, earning 69.70 points and setting the tone for the competition.
Then came the queen of Polignano, Australia's Rhiannan Iffland. Already an eight-time winner at this venue, the defending King Kahekili champion looked unfazed by the swirls and waves. Stepping up to the challenge, Iffland’s Forward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist in Pike was textbook precision. Strong lines, solid form and a clean entry saw the Australian collect scores of 8.0, 8.5 and 8.0 for a commanding 83.30 points.
Cliff Diving legend Rhiannan Iffland leads after Day 1
© Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
Local hero Elisa Cosetti followed Iffland onto the platform and channeled the energy of her home crowd with a stylish but solid Back 2 Somersaults 2 Twists, just falling shy of Iffland’s opener by 1.70 points
It was the USA’s Kaylea Arnett who truly shook up the standings, though. Now a permanent diver on the World Series roster, Arnett returned to Polignano following a second-place finish behind Iffland at the season opener. And with four out of six podiums to her name since 2024, the 32-year-old launched into her Forward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist in Pike with full confidence. Her tight pike and clean vertical sent a message that she was in Italy to do business – two 8.5s and an 8.0 from the judges delivered her the top score of the round.
The Arnett - Iffland - Cosetti top three remained in place despite strong performances from two wildcards - Switzerland's Morgane Herculano (4th) and Lisa Faulkner of the USA, at her very first World Series appearance.
Local hero Elisa Cosetti is sitting comfortably in second after Day 1
© Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
It was all-change for Round 2 from the Amore di Mare balcony, as the divers switched the platform for a super-intimate Required dive – capped at 2.6 for the women – from the private residence overlooking the Adriatic.
Having surged to the top with her opener, Arnett suffered a significant dent in her bid for the podium in Round 2, accelerating too fast in her soaring Forward Flying 1 Somersault in Pike and falling short on entry. The American picked up just two 5.0s and a 5.5, opening up the field for a top three finish.
Cosetti continued to carry the weight of expectation from her home crowd with style and poise, as the waves rolled and smashed below her. The Italian diver flipped a sleek Reverse 1 Somersault in 3 positions, before drilling down and digging deep to rip her entry. Three 8.0s from the judges edged Cosetti up from third to second and one step closer to the top step. But despite a strong opening day, the 22-year-old couldn't drive a wedge between Iffland and the top of the leaderboard.
Iffland’s experience and laser focus was in play, as she spotted the perfect moment between crashing waves to launch and throw down a solid Forward 2 Somersaults 1 1/2 Twists, leaning on her ability to pull out consistently high-scoring dives, whatever the weather.
Closing out the top three finishers on Day 1 was wildcard Morgane Herculano, who took advantage of Arnett's misfire, picking up two 8.5s and an 8.0 to move up from fourth to third.
Iffland, Chukanivska and Arnett relax before the start of the day's action
© Dean Trem/Red Bull Content Pool
Paredes lays the foundation for Polignano podium
The men’s competition roared into action from the 27m platform with El Nido winner Gary Hunt leading the charge in his 102nd World Series appearance. Battling strong gusts slicing across the Adriatic, the French legend launched into a composed Intermediate dive – with Round 1 capped at a 3.6 Degree of Difficulty – and posted a clean 90.00 points off two 8.0s and an 8.5. It was a strong opener, but not enough to hold the top spots, ultimately leaving Hunt in fifth place after Round 1.
The surprise result of Round 1 was delivered courtesy of Romania’s Catalin Preda, in his second outing in the World Series since returning from a string of injuries in 2024 that saw him drop from the permanent diver line-up to wildcard status for 2025.
Jonathan Paredes impressed on Day 1 and leads the standings
© Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
With his fellow Romanian diver Constantin Popovici holding the lead from early in Round 1, Preda matched speed and power with flair and grace to leapfrog into the top spot. Preda’s Forward 3 Somersaults 1 1/2 Twists in Pike was a show of pure artistry and his snappy opening performance earning him 97.20 points after picking up three 9.0s from the judges.
Mexico’s Yolotl Martinez held onto a third place at the close of Round 1, the up-and-coming star landing a solid score after ripping a bold Forward 4 Somersaults 1/2 Twist in Tuck and collecting two 8.5s and a 9.0.
Round 2 brought more unexpected twists as the wildcards continued to shake up the competition and pile on the pressure. Round 1 leader Preda couldn't keep pace with the top of the leaderboard in his second dive of the day, the only Reverse Flying 1 Somersault in Pike. Despite all of the aerial elements of the Required dive – capped at 2.8 for all men – dripping in style, Preda's miscalculation on lining up for his entry landed him a sixth place finish on Day 1 with three 5.5 scores from the judges.
Constantin Popovici prepares for his final dive of Day 1
© Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
As the sun sank towards the horizon, bathing the balcony launchpad in golden light, Mexico's Jonathan Paredes continued his fight to reclaim a permanent spot in 2026, inching up into the overnight lead after a stunning Forward 2 Somersaults 1/2 Twist in Pike. With two 9.0s and an 8.5 point stamp of approval from the judges, Paredes conquered Day 1 ahead of Popovici, who sustained his solid second place on the leaderboard.
Spain’s Carlos Gimeno was a picture of finesse and power, clinching two 9.0s and a 9.5 and third place after launching a controlled and gutsy Armstand Back 2 1/2 Somersaults, despite the constant buffeting of wind against the balcony launch spot.
04
What went down on Day 2 in Polignano?
Day 2 brought the first round of Required Dives of the competition in Polignano a Mare. Despite the blazing sunshine and blue skies, 22kph winds and choppy waters continued to push the athletes to their limits.
Round 3 signalled a shift in focus, the divers tackling their first uncapped Optional Dives of the day as they sought to balance increasing Degree of Difficulty, tricky diving conditions and precision form. With only 16 rounds of diving in the whole season, the stakes continued to get higher, and the pressure intensified.
Despite its appearance, the conditions were gusty and choppy on Day 2
© Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
Iffland holds off Leathead to take ninth Polignano win
The women were first out on the 21m platform, facing slightly steadier conditions after a super turbulent opening day,
The first standout moment of Round 3 followed a remarkable dive by wildcard rookie Lisa Faulkner. In her first World Series appearance, the former gymnast launched into a high-risk 4.4 DD Optional dive, aiming to pick up big scores from the judges with an audacious Armstand Back 2 1/2 Somersaults 2 Twists. Following a strong and steady armstand and explosive take-off, Faulkner crushed it, with no hint of trepidation in her tight form and razor-sharp entry. Judges rewarded the effort with three 8.0s, giving her 105.60 points and temporarily pushing her into the lead.
Lisa Faulkner impressed on day two to take third place in Italy
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Faulkner's rise was one of the biggest moments of the round, with the American wildcard only edged out later by Simone Leathead.
Coming off a solid and very promising Round 2 result, the Canadian delivered a high-octane Forward 4 Somersaults 1/2 Twist in Pike, squeezing every bit of advantage out of the ultra-high DD of 4.4. From take-off to entry the 22-year-old struck the perfect balance between power and control. Locked-in, explosive and precise, Leathead's dive earned a total of 103.40 points following two 8.0s and a 7.5 to keep her within striking distance of the podium top step.
Last up in Round 3 was eight-time Polignano a Mare winner Rhiannan Iffland, chasing her ninth straight win in Italy. With one of the highest DDs of the round, the Aussie’s Forward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist in Pike was sharp, though her entry from the Barani was just off true vertical – a rare flicker in an otherwise dominant performance. Iffland matched Leathead’s points, picking up 103.40 to add to her total from two 8.0s and a 7.5 – enough to keep the defending champion firmly at the top of the leaderboard heading into the final round with 249.10 points compared to Leathead’s 239.40.
In Round 4, Elisa Cosetti really kicked-off the battle for the podium. Her inward dive looked strong on the approach, lined-up well, but a slight miss on the entry showed just how unforgiving the swirling waters of Polignano can be. The Italian moved into first overall, but with three divers still to go, just a 10-point difference saw the Italian ultimately settle for fourth place on home soil.
Lisa Faulkner thundered into Round 4 with the confidence of a World Series veteran. Her 3.9 DD Back 3 Somersaults was bold, powerful and clean in the air. After launching with a strong jump. Faulkner held her form, only wrapping her last dive with an entry that came just a touch off vertical. The judges rewarded the risk and composure with a 76.05, enough to push her to 299.85 overall and lock in a guaranteed podium. Faulkner earned a third-place finish in her debut World Series event and the sense that this is just the beginning for a serious new contender At 37, the American wildcard is proof that raw drive and elite training can pay off at any age.
Simone Leathead scored an impressive 93.60 points with her final dive
© Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
Simone Leathead was the penultimate diver in the women's competition and was clearly dialled-in as breezy conditions upped the ante. From the take-off to the final twist, her 3.9 DD Inward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist was a display of power and prowess under pressure. Floating through the air with poise, Leathead lined-up in Barani for a clean and sharp entry and finished with the Canadian picking up 93.60 points, enough to surge into the lead with just one diver left to go – a massive moment in her 14th World Series appearance.
Chasing a ninth straight podium in Polignano and holding a 10-point advantage going into Round 4 was the last woman to dive, Rhiannan Iffland. She didn't flinch as she launched her podium bid. Her Inward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist in Tuck was vintage Iffland – clean, composed, and right on the money. The entry ripped, the form never wavered, and the judges responded with two 8.5s and an 8.0 for 92.50 points, sealing yet another victory. With 341.60 points overall, her 43rd World Series win, her 51st career podium and her 10th in Polignano a Mare, the GOAT delivered once again.
Rhiannan Iffland was unstoppable in Italy with another win to her name
© Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
Gimeno scores second career win as Hunt leads bid for the crown
The men’s Round 3 Optional Dives saw a shuffle in the top three, with a relaxed Gary Hunt enjoying a shift in fortune as he clawed his way back into podium contention following a moderately scored Forward 3 Somersaults 3 1/2 Twists. Hunt's DD of 4.9 helped boost his points total to 93.1 for the round and third place at the close of the round.
Italy's fan favourite Andrea Barnaba lit up Round 3 with one of the cleanest dives of the day, an Inward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist in Pike that combined beautiful form with real power. The Trieste native showed off one of the deepest, tightest pikes in the men’s field and the judges took notice. With three 8.5s, he racked up 96.60 points – a major boost heading into the final round and a standout performance from a diver rapidly climbing the ranks.
Local hero Andrea Barnaba finished just off the podium at his home event
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Carlos Gimeno cranked up the heat in the penultimate Round in Polignano a Mare, pulling off a super solid 5.2 DD Back Quad dive. The Spaniard nailed the aerial component of five somersaults in tuck and slicing through the surface, picking up 117 points to land him in first place by a sizable margin.
Hunt and Gimeno were joined in the Round 3 top three by Jonathan Paredes, who despite landing off-kitler Back 3 Somersaults 3 Twists in Pike still picked up three 6.5 scores from the judges, earning enough points to carry him into podium contention for the finals.
The final round in Polignano delivered plenty of drama and action – wild precision, ripped entries, hard landings and a crowd on the edge until the very last splash.
Barnaba was on fire in Round 4, making an early grab for the Puglian podium. As the Adriatic pulsed and crashed 27m below, and with the home crowd behind him, the 21-year-old Italian delivered a standout performance of his World Series career so far. His final dive was clean, explosive, and polished, vaulting him into an early lead. With the home crowd collectively holding their breath, all Barnaba could do was watch as the final divers took to the platform. The tension broke briefly but sharply when Yolotl Martinez, one of Mexico’s rising stars, landed hard and off-axis, a fraction of a second miscalculation that resulted in the safety team escorting him from the water.
Round 3 leader Gary Hunt, still relatively fresh from his triumphant comeback win in El Nido, showed no interest in reigning in his pursuit of an 11th title win. Hunt’s final dive – a massive 5.2 DD Back 3 Somersaults 4 Twists – was dynamic, fast, and laser-controlled. He snapped into position mid-air, sliced the entry, and erupted from the water with a smile that said it all. Judges dropped three 8.0s for the effort, giving him 124.80 points and an event total of 365.30 – enough to propel the 41-year old into a guaranteed podium finish.
Wildcard Gary Hunt's final dive scored him an astronomical 124.80 points
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Penultimate diver Parades held onto his elite form in Round 4 to pull out elegant lines and a textbook rip entry. His 4.7 DD Back 3 Somersaults 3 Twists in Pike was a visual masterclass, but the numbers just didn’t stack up. The lower degree of difficulty meant his 112.00 score left him just 0.25 points short of the top spot, behind Hunt. A single half-point from one judge would have flipped the standings, but Hunt’s risk paid off – agony or Paredes, by decimals.
With a podium spot and a shot at the win on the line, all eyes turned to the final diver, Carlos Gimeno. The Spaniard took his time on the platform, setting his armstand with surgical focus, before delivering a monster 5.4 DD Back 3 Somersaults 4 Twists.
Gimeno whipped into motion with an explosive take-off, smooth rotations, and a dead-straight rip into the Adriatic. The 35-year-old picked up three 8.5s from the judges, and soared to the top spot to lock in his second career World Series win, edging past Hunt with 137.70 points – 403.45 in total – thanks to a perfect balance of difficulty and execution.
Despite a stellar dive, the overall level of skill and consistency across two days of competition from more experienced divers in the field meant that it wasn’t to be for Andrea Barnaba, the dream of a win, and then a podium finish, slipping away until he settled in fourth overall.
Iffland and Gimeno – your 2025 Polignano a Mare winners!
© Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
With the second of four stops wrapped in the 2025 calendar, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series passes its mid-way point. 24 elite divers will not shift their focus to the penultimate stop in the city of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina on 5-6 September, with the curtain drop to a short but wild ride of a season taking place just two weeks later in Boston, USA on 19-20 September.Don't miss all the best bits and exclusive insights from The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Polignano 2025 stop when the next episode of More Than a Dive drops on 4 July.
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