Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
Sydney, Australia
November 10, 2024
10
Nov
The 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series made a thrilling return to Sydney, Australia, where the world's best divers were fully prepped after a seven gruelling stops to showcase their skills in the final competition of the season.
For the women, the GOAT, Rhiannan Iffland, had already solidified her 2024 success after taking a record-breaking eighth consecutive title at the previous stop in Turkey, but the battle for the remaining podium spots and a top-four finish for automatic 2025 qualification raged on. However, with a huge homecoming crowd ready to cheer on the local hero and fellow Australians Xantheia Pennisi and Stella Forsyth, there was still plenty of motivation to pull one last big win out of the bag on home soil.
Wildcard Stella Forsyth makes her debut Sydney
© Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
Iffland's biggest challenger, Canadian Molly Carlson, had already snatched two wins from the Australian this season in Athens and Montreal, but had to sit out the last stop due to a knee injury. With plenty of points under her belt already this season, Carlson retained second overall in the championship standings however, leaving the door open in the battle for third with Kaylea Arnett (USA), Simone Leathead (CAN), Meili Carpenter (USA) and Ginni van Katwijk (NED) all with skin in the game.
In the men's competition, the King Kahekili trophy was still in contention for Britain’s Aidan Heslop, James Lichtenstein of the USA and defending World Series champion Constantin Popovici of Romania. And just as in the women's event, with a top four overall finish scoring an automatic place on the 2025 roster, the goal for the divers in Sydney was clear – throw down their biggest, boldest dives yet and deliver the best performance of the season.
With the King Kahekili title on the line, the world-class athletes pushed to their limits to make every twist, flip, and landing unforgettable.
01
Location
This high-stakes event launched under cloudless summer skies in the stunning Sydney Harbour. A purpose-built platform elevated the divers to heights of up to 27m above the sparkling waters, giving over 52,500 spectators an unparalleled view as divers executed complex twists, flips and somersaults against a world-famous backdrop that includes the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.
Nikita Fedotov launches into Day 1 in Sydney
© Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
02
Who won?
It was a fairytale ending to an incredible season for Iffland, who locked down a home win at the final stop of a wild season of diving in the World Series. The 33-year-old eight-time King Kahekili trophy winner had secured her title at the penultimate stop, but had one last job to do – victory in front of her home crowd.
A tense Iffland brought her A-game to the Australian city, smoking her last dive of the competition. The final flourish snatched up a fifth win of 2024 for the Aussie legend, marking the 41st win of her career and a 49th World Series podium finish from 51 starts.
"That was electric, it was incredible!” Iffland commented after taking the dream home win. "I have to be honest, I was super nervous and super shaky up there, but what a way to end the season. It was tough to be consistent this year and it's getting tougher and tougher, but it makes it more rewarding."
In the men's competition, Ukraine's Oleksiy Prygorov snatched final win of the season, ending the year on an all-time high. The 37-year-old endured a rollercoaster ride throughout 2024, from the low of a last place finish in Oslo to the best result of his career in first at the season-closer. The Sydney event win marks Prygorov’s first-ever visit to the top step of the podium after seven seasons vying for victory.
"It was incredible. To win here at this harbour is really insane. I cannot believe that it's happening, it’s amazing. It’s difficult to describe right now, I need more time to calm down… it’s unbelievable," Pyrgorov said, clearly stunned by his win.
And after many years of grind at the forefront of a new generation of divers in the sport, including two torturous misses at the overall win in 2022 and 2023, this season marks the year that Aidan Heslop was finally crowned the World Series champion, taking the baton from the 2023 winner Constantin Popovici. Heslop becomes the youngest King Kahekili trophy winner ever in the sport's history and the first Brit to take the title since his idol, Gary Hunt, in 2019.
03
What went down on Day 1 in Sydney?
With summer in full swing Down Under, the women kicked off the big finale under perfect conditions. The Day 1 Required Dives are capped at 2.6 for the women and 2.8 for the men, with the divers focusing on picking up points for artistry and precision over pure power in the opening round.
Aussies Rule in women's opening round
With Rhiannan Iffland already in situ in the champion spot for 2024, Sydney, it’s more of a case of bringing it home for the eight-time King Kahekili winner at the Australian stop. The Newcastle native got her bid for the perfect 2024 sign-off underway with a first place finish in Round 1, ripping her Reverse 2 Somersaults Required Dive into the harbour with signature finesse, picking up three 9.0 scores.
Iffland goes big at home in Sydney
© Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool
Having already made a top three finish this season in Oslo, Wildcard Elisa Cosetti looked to be making a second podium bid of the season in Sydney after finishing behind Iffland in second place after her Round 1 Required Dive. With three 8.5 scores from the judges, the Italian diver looked extremely confident to be sitting so comfortably behind the champion at the close of the first day.
And for Aussie Xantheia Pennisi, who has faced her own personal demons on the platform this season before making a self-assured comeback, the home crowd energy appeared to boost the 25 year old after she wrapped Day 1 with a top three finish. Pennisi picked up two 8.5s and an 8.0 after landing an elegant Reverse 1 Somersault.
It was also a confident start for Australia’s Stella Forsyth in her World Series debut, after the 17 year old from Brisbane’s inaugural dive, also a Reverse 1 Somersault, earned her 6th place at the close of her very first day competing alongside the world’s best cliff divers.
High scores and hustle for the top spot in the men’s competition
There was little room for maneouvre or mistakes in the men’s category as just 9.8 points separated the top six finishers on Day 1. Nikita Fedotov, now competing under the Armenian flag, put in the best performance of the Round 1 Required dives after earning three 9.5 scores from the judges for his epic but elegant Forward Flying 1 Somersault.
Spain’s Carlos Gimeno finished the day in second, his dynamic Forward 3 Somersaults ½ Twist notching up a 9.0 and two 8.5s. Wildcard Sergio Guzman opted for the same dive, and was one of three divers – including Wildcard rising star Andrea Barnaba of Italy and Ukraine’s Oleksiy Prygorov – to pick up three 8.5s, with Guzman, Barnaba and Prygorov all ending the day tied in third.
Heslop soars into Day 1 and edges closer to victory
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Meanwhile, Aidan Heslop from Great Britain is on the brink of solidifying his status as the diver to beat, chasing an elusive series of four perfect dives that would not only clinch his victory but leave no doubt about his dominance this season.
The Brit, famous for his incredibly powerful and complex dives, favours the Optional Dives on Day 2 and 3, and in Sydney Heslop just needs to retain his form at the final stop to guarantee his first ever King Kahekili title. With so many high scores packed into the Day 1 results, despite finishing mid-table the 22 year old has still made a stellar start to his bid for the title with an 8.0 and two 8.5s… and plenty more points up for grabs in the three remaining rounds.
04
What went down on Day 2 in Sydney?
With the last stop of the rollercoaster ride of 2024 World Series heading towards the big showdown, and 2025 spots up for grabs as well as the men’s King Kahekili trophy still in play, the stakes were reaching a season-high in Sydney on Day 2.
The adrenaline was pumping for both divers and the huge crowd of spectators during Saturday’s two rounds of action-packed diving as the divers went all-in for the last chance to podium in this year’s competition in Sydney. Perfect diving conditions once again set the scene in the glittering Sydney Harbour, with the women first out on the platform to launch their Round 2 Intermediate Dives and pick up maximum points at the Australian final.
Iffland on course to take home win, as Wildcards push for podium
All the Round 2 action launched from the women’s 21m platform for the second day of diving Down Under. The Intermediate dives saw the Degree of Difficulty capped at 3.4, adding another level of complexity and artistry to yesterday’s opening round.
2024 King Kahekili trophy winner Rhiannan Iffland maintained her strong lead as she continued in her quest to nail the home win. Maxing out the available DD for her Inward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist Intermediate dive, Iffland put in a tidy, classy performance to earn three 8.5 scores and 156.90 overall.
Wildcard Elisa Cosetti continued her second podium bid of the season in Round 2 with her second place finish picking up 76.50 to make 142.80 so far, while Colombia’s Maria Paula Quintero replaced local hero Xantheia Pennisi in third place, moving up from 4th to 3rd with a solid Back 2 Somersaults 2 Twists.
Melbourne-born Wildcard Stella Forsyth also enjoyed an incredible start to her second day as a rookie at the World Series final. The young Australian’s path to the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series first launched from 20m only a month ago, pulling together her dive list within four days during the Red Bull High School programme in Fort Lauderdale in October. Forsyth finished Round 2 in 4th, just 7.10 points behind Quintero.
Aussie Wildcard Stella Forsyth impressed the judges on Day 2
© Ken Leanfore / Red Bull Content Pool
Round 3 and the first of the uncapped Optional Dives of the competition revealed the first chink in Iffland’s armour. Under the intense gaze of a huge home crowd, the Australian uncharacteristically missed the entry, picking up three 7.0s scores and a Round 3 rank of 6th. Iffland’s sizeable lead from the first two rounds gave her breathing space to maintain the overall lead as the 33 year old wrapped Day 2 still on top.
It was all change in the podium spots, however, as another Wildcard shuffled up the timesheets into the top three. A mellow but supremely focused Nelli Chukanivska picked up 99.45 points with three 8.5s from the judges for her powerful Armstand Back 2 1/2 Somersaults, with the Ukrainian 2024 World Series newbie fighting for one last chance to build on her season-best 5th place finish in Montreal.
A cool and calm Nelli Chukanivska scored highly on the second day
© Dean Treml / Red Bull Content Pool
The final to three spot saw a switch up in the rankings as Canada’s Simone Leathead and Wildcard Elisa Cosetti traded 3rd and 4th places. Leathead wrapped Round 3 in third thanks to a stellar Inward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist earning her one 8.0 and two 8.5s and 97.50 points.
Ukraine’s Prygorov chases back to back podium as Heslop inches closer to overall victory
In the men’s competition, the Round 2 action saw the divers throwing down their Intermediate dives from 27m, capped at 3.6. Italy’s Andrea Barnaba looked primed for another potential visit to the podium, following his third place finish at the last stop in Antalya, after soaring into the top spot on the timesheets at the close of the second round. Considered the diver with the most beautiful form on the tour, his incredible flexibility and strength was on display as he ripped his Inward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist earning three 8.5 scores from the judges.
Ukrainian Oleksiy Prygorov earned the second place finish after Round 2 with a super solid and streamlined Inward 2 Somersaults 1/2 Twist, picking up one 8.0 and two 8.5s, while Nikita Fedotov (ARM) held fast with a top three finish, picking up 79.20 points to sit just 2.40 points behind Prygorov.
Oleksiy Prygorov had a great start to Day 2
© Romina Amato / Red Bull Content Pool
King Kahekili contender Aidan Heslop, struggling with a back and glute injury, languished in 10th overall after the close of Round 2, still needing a decent stash of points in Sydney to guarantee the title. Heslop’s result meant he would be heading into Round 3 heavily leaning on his biggest, most powerful dives of the competition to pull the Brit up the rankings towards overall victory.
Round 3 in the men’s competition was met with choppier waters below the platform, giving the divers a little bonus challenge at the supercharged final stop. Prygorov showed no signs of slowing his ascent to the Sydney event podium, as he chased down a back-to-back top three finish following his second place overall in Antalya. Stomping his first Optional Dive, a Back 4 Somersaults 2 Twists, the towering Ukrainian’s impressive form struck the balance between power and precision to earn him another 119.85 points and the top spot at the close of Day 2.
Defending World Series champion Constantin Popovici pulled out the big guns with his dynamic and pristine Back 4 Somersaults 3 Twists, moving up from fifth to second after three rounds, as Wildcard and World Series veteran Sergio Guzman made his first play for the final podium of the season, finishing Day 2 in third.
Constantin Popovici climbed the scoreboard due to two fantastic dives
© Dean Treml / Red Bull Content Pool
An unexpected major error in James “Mr Consistent” Lichtenstein’s dive entry opened the door for Heslop, edging the Brit up into 9th overall despite a slightly heavy landing, in touching distance of a guaranteed long-awaited victory.
Only one more round of diving stands between Heslop and glory. For the British diver who’s endured two seasons finishing as runner-up, the King Kahekili trophy is finally within touching distance.
05
What went down on Day 3 in Sydney?
The world's best cliff divers made their last dives over Sydney Harbour for the big showdown, at the climactic final round in the last stop of the 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in front of 35,000 spectators. It all came down to this; with the men in the final stages of chasing down the coveted King Kahekili Trophy, and both the men and women looking to secure an automatic qualification spot for the 2025 permanent divers' lineup, the stakes were at an all-time high.
The divers went all-out at the stunning Australian location, serving up the ultimate mix of skill, courage, and style. As the wind picked up and the gusts rolled in, Sydney was the final ultimate challenge of the season. With so much on the line, this very last diving round would be a make or break moment in each divers’ legacy.
The 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series champions
© Ken Leanfore / Red Bull Content Pool
Iffland lands final challenge with dream home win in Sydney
The 21m platform was the launch site for the very last round of diving in 2024’s big finale, as the women were first out to drill down the last dives of the World Series season into Sydney Harbour. Gusty winds over 20 kph blasted and buffeted the platform, adding an extra test of skills for the world-class athletes.
With Rhiannan Iffland already crowned with a record-breaking eighth King Kahekili trophy at the last stop in Antalya, there were two prizes still up for grabs; the event win at the Australian stop, and four automatic qualification spots for the top four finishers in the overall rankings. Canada’s Molly Carlson, who was absent from the line-up due to injury, had already secured the second spot in the automatic qualification, but two remaining places were waiting to be filled at the close of business.
Rhiannan Iffland doing what she does best
© Romina Amato / Red Bull Content Pool
There was little doubt that the greatest women’s diver in World Series history would do anything but deliver an immense dive at the Sydney final. Ramping up the crowd, Iffland launched into her Back 3 Somersaults 2 Twists, a picture of power, precision and pure artistry as she twisted and flipped her way to glory.
The 33 year old crushed the entry on her fourth and final dive, picking up three 9.0 scores in a last statement of dominance. Iffland finished 2024 on an all-time high, grabbing the home win at the last stop in the season in which she made her historic World Series title victory. The perfect ending to an unforgettable year for the Australian legend.
A confident Simone Leathead (CAN) appeared immune to the blustery conditions that threatened to push each diver off course as they threw down their concluding dives, dropping in one last epic dive of her World Series season. A superb, powerful take off coupled with a beautiful position in the air, and sealed with a seamless entry, made the perfect sign-off for the Canadian diver. Leathead’s Back 3 Somersaults 1 Twist dive picked up three 8.5 scores from the judges, pulling the 21 year old temporarily into the top of the scoresheets. The slam dunk locked in a podium finish for Leathead, with the Canadian ultimate taking a second place finish in Sydney behind Iffland.
The last spot on the Sydney podium was a surprise result for Nelli Chukanivska, the Wildcard from Ukraine who has only three World Series starts under her belt. Chukanivska’s Inward 3 Somersaults 1/2 Twist dive was one of her best of 2024 – showcasing beautiful form in the air as she nailed the triple somersault. But as she emerged a little early of the final manoeuvre, the 17 year old diver found herself coming into the entry a little short of vertical.
Wildcard Nelli Chukanivska claims a podium in Sydney
© Dean Treml / Red Bull Content Pool
Chukanivska picked up three 7.0s from the judges, but her consistent form throughout three days of competition meant she had enough points in the bag to land a podium finish in third. The result in Sydney marks a first World Series podium for the up and coming Ukrainian, who takes a place in the history books as the youngest ever diver in the women’s competition to score a podium finish.
Epic final dive serves up King Kahekili win for Britain’s Aidan Heslop as Prygorov grabs competition victory
With the women’s competition done and dusted for 2024, all eyes were on the men, as they launched for the last time this season from 27m. Gusty conditions prevailed, but the men’s line-up seemed unfazed, absorbing the next-level energy from an electrified crowd of 35,000 Sydney spectators.
It was the very last diver out on the platform for the 2024 season who ultimately secured victory in the men’s competition. Framed by an iconic backdrop that includes the iconic Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour bridge, Ukraine’s Oleksiy Prygorov wrote the last unexpected chapter of 2024.
Oleksiy Prygorov soars to victory in Sydney
© Dean Treml / Red Bull Content Pool
Having inched his way into the top spot over the first three rounds, Prygorov just needed to deliver on his Forward 4 Somersaults 2 ½ Twists to nail his inaugural win. Stomping into the final shot for the win of 2024, Prygorov slammed into the air from his running take-off and crammed in three seconds of pure power and artistry, holding the line despite a threat of over-rotation before slicing into the harbour waters below.
The 37 year old Olympic medalist emerged visibly pumped, confident he’d knocked it out of the park and was in line for the coveted event win. When the judges delivered his final score of 124.55 points – scoring two 8.0s and a 7.5 – Prygorov was both shocked and overwhelmed to have finally chased down a World Series victory.
Prygorov’s win spelled a second place finish for Spain’s Carlos Gimeno, who until that point had temporarily occupied the top spot in the scoresheets after a majestic Armstand Back 4 1/2 Somersaults which ultimately earned the biggest score of the round, with three 9.0s and 145.80 points.
Constantin Popovici loses his title but claimed a podium in Sydney
© Ken Leanfore / Red Bull Content Pool
The last podium place of the season went to Romania’s Constantin Popovici after a solid eighth stop track record. Despite Heslop ending on a high note with two 8.0s and a 8.5, and his incredible 5.9 DD Forward 4 Somersaults 3 1/2 Twists Pike – the biggest dive on the rosta – actually outscoring the Romanian’s final dive, Popovici’s consistency throughout the three day competition was enough to secure him a top three event finish.
It was a bittersweet ending for the Romanian 2023 King Kahekili trophy winner though, as he wrapped 2024 handing over the reins to Heslop, the freshly-crowned King Kahekili winner.
More than 50,000 fans watch the 2024 World Series final
© Dean Treml / Red Bull Content Pool
Nelli Chukanivska in front of Sydney's iconic landmarks
© Romina Amato / Red Bull Content Pool
Kaylea Arnett warms up for her final dive of the season
© Dean Treml / Red Bull Content Pool
The world champion Aidan Heslop summersaults from the platform
© Romina Amato / Red Bull Content Pool
06
Who qualified for the 2025 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series?
The final results of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series have also confirmed the automatic qualification for the top four permanent diver spots for 2025 in each category, with the remaining four spots assigned by World Rankings.
The following divers are set to form the women’s permanent line-up when the World Series returns next year:
- Rhiannan Iffland (AUS)
- Molly Carlson (CAN)
- Kaylea Arnett (USA)
- Simone Leathead (CAN)
- Elisa Cosetti (ITA)
- Nelli Chukanivska (UKR)
- Meili Carpenter (USA)
- Ginni Van Katwijk (NED)
In the men’s competition, the final slots of of the 2025 World Series are also confirmed as:
- Aidan Heslop (GBR)
- Constantin Popovici (ROU)
- James Lichtenstein (USA)
- Carlos Gimeno (ESP)
- Yolotl Martinez (MEX)
- Oleksiy Prygorov (UKR)
- Sergio Guzman (MEX)
- Andreas Barnaba (ITA)
And that's a wrap! Catch the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series when it brings all the adrenaline back to the platform in 2025. See you there!
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