Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series - Polignano a Mare
Polignano a Mare, Italy
September 25 – 27, 2026
Watch Replay on Red Bull TV
Red Bull Cliff Diving – Italy livestream
Sun, September 27 2026
The 2026 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series returned to Europe’s spiritual home of cliff diving, Polignano a Mare, for the season finale – the 115th stop in World Series history, and the 14th edition at this iconic location.
Three Italian wildcards competed on home soil, with Elisa Cosetti, Andrea Barnaba and Davide Baraldi all taking to the platforms as the town’s narrow streets, clifftops and historic bridge filled with spectators.
In the women’s competition, Rhiannan Iffland arrived in Polignano a Mare having already secured a record-extending 10th overall title at the penultimate stop in Mostar in August. With the title battle settled, the final event win of the season was still up for grabs on the women’s platform.
Wild seas and wind challenged the divers at the season finale
© Alex Voyer/Red Bull Content Pool
Meanwhile, the men’s competition came down to a three-way title fight, with Aidan Heslop, James Lichtenstein or Constantin Popovici chasing the King Kahehili trophy.
01
Location
Polignano a Mare brought choppy seas and chaotic winds to the 2026 season finale, adding an extra challenge to the competition at the Italian stop, where 10,000 spectators witnessed 12 men and 12 women brave the elements with one last shot at victory.
The iconic balcony dives opened the competition among the cliffs, rooftops and balconies of the old town, before the action moved out to the diving platforms over the sparkling blue Adriatic, framed by the rugged Puglian coastline and dramatic seascapes. With conditions as unpredictable as the location itself, Polignano a Mare provided a stunning backdrop for a tense final weekend.
Sun, sea and suspense: Polignano a Mare had it all
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
02
Who won?
The Italian stop served up a wild, adrenaline-fuelled season finale packed with drama from the first dive to the last. Two event winners were crowned on the Adriatic cliffs, with the men's World Series title decided by just 1.05 points.
Who Won the 2026 King Kahekili Trophy?
Rhiannan Iffland was officially presented with the women's King Kahekili trophy in Italy, having already secured her record-extending 10th World Series title at the penultimate stop in Mostar. Her season in Polignano a Mare ended after Round 2 when she was forced to retire through injury, but the Australian had already done enough across the season to put the title beyond reach.
“That was an anxious wait since Bosnia to now to lift that King Kahekili Trophy. Unfortunately, it wasn't the way that I wanted to finish my season. I was a bit disappointed yesterday that I couldn't manage to finish the competition, but that doesn't take away from celebrating the achievements that I've achieved this year. I just can't believe how incredible the last decade of my life has been in this sport. It's taught me so much and I've had so much fun standing up on the platform all around the world. What a cool moment.”
Rhiannan Iffland collected her tenth consecutive King Kahekili trophy
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Before wrapping up in Italy, Iffland made it clear she was already looking ahead to 2027.
"I've still got plenty of gas in the tank. I'm not ready to hang up my swimsuit yet. You know, I think there's plenty of lessons to be learned in a sport like this, and this is just one of them. So I'll be back for an 11th season – strong, excited and ready to go."
Heslop and Iffland: The 2026 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series champions
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
The battle for the men's World Series title was a completely different story, as Heslop, Lichtenstein and Popovici took the fight all the way to the last dive of the season. Having made his own final attempt, Brit Heslop had an almost unbearable wait for title rival Lichtenstein to complete his dive. But Lichtenstein's score wasn't quite enough to overhaul him, and Heslop secured his second King Kahekili trophy, only the second wildcard in the men's competition to achieve this feat, after Gary Hunt's 2025 victory.
"After all that I've been through, I think it's quite fitting. It was my first competition here when I was 16 back in 2018. Being able to stand here with the King Kahekili Trophy with my debut spot in the background is pretty special. Polignano was already special to me, but now it's extra special." Heslop commented after his win was confirmed.
“I didn't make it easy for myself at the end there, so I'm glad it all worked out! It's the hardest thing, not being the last diver... Having to watch James after a dive like that – where mine wasn't that great –it was pretty nerve-wracking and I didn't enjoy it. But it's part of the sport. If you mess up, you've gotta watch the others do well. I wasn't happy about it – but I'm happy about it now!"
Heslop held on until the last round, securing his second champion title
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Who won the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series stop in Polignano a Mare?
Molly Carlson took the women's event win, closing out her 2026 season with four outstanding rounds and a performance full of confidence and enjoyment. A year after her difficult experience in Polignano a Mare, where she slipped from the platform during her running take-off, Carlson returned to the same cliffs brimming with confidence, embracing the competition and visibly enjoying every moment.
The Canadian finished ahead of Xantheia Pennisi and Lisa Faulkner to claim her fifth career World Series event victory, a result that also earned her 2nd place in the World Series standings behind Iffland.
Molly Carlson was a powerhouse from start to finish in Italy
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
"Honestly I just cried happy tears when I got onto the ground because… what just happened? In the most chaotic environment… I think something about the bedazzles on my swimsuit made me shine, and I'm just so proud of what I managed to do out there today. Literally the next 12 months of my life are going to be bedazzling – so call me if you need a job!" she laughed.
"I truly just came out to enjoy this last competition of the year – this whole season I wanted to enjoy – and to go out there and have the best season of my life, I'm just beyond happy and proud. And who knows what the next season is going to look like!"
Molly Carlson capped off the 2026 season with her first win since 2024
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
In the men's event, Oleksiy Prygorov took his second career World Series win, beating Lichtenstein by just 1.05 points in one of the closest finishes of the season. Remarkably, his first victory also came at a season finale, when he won in Sydney in 2024.
The Ukrainian had competed in Polignano a Mare five times before this year's event and had long dreamed of reaching the podium at one of the sport's most iconic venues:
"For me it's special…I was dreaming to make the podium and I can't imagine that I was going to make 1st here. It's really impressive. I love Italy and Polignano a Mare – it's so special for me. It's something unbelievable that happened today. Thank you to all the people, you're all so sweet – thank you for the support. I'm just enjoying it, and for me it's just my life and that's why I'm doing it. Full power, 100% happy to be here."
Prygorov steamed his way into Round 3 before taking the win
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
What went down on Day 3 in Polignano a Mare?
One round stood between the athletes and the final podiums of the 2026 season. Molly Carlson headed into Day 3 having sat at the top of the live leaderboard for the first three rounds, with Pennisi and Faulkner hot on her heels. In the men's competition, Prygorov had set his sights on his next win following a standout Round 3 result, while Heslop, Lichtenstein and Popovici were still in contention for this year's King Kahekili Trophy.
Carlson comeback: Canadian signs off 2026 with a victory in Italy
The women's event came down to the final three divers. Faulkner went first, her Back 3 Somersaults 2 Twists earning three 7.5s for 99.00 points and 320.60 overall. That guaranteed the American a podium finish and left Pennisi and Carlson to fight over the top two places.
Faulkner's high Degree of Difficulty dives showcase her immense strength
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Pennisi followed with a Forward 3 Somersaults 1½ Twists, combining a running take-off with powerful dynamics before finding a clean entry. Three 8.0s gave her 96.00 points and 328.60 overall, moving her into second and leaving Carlson with the final dive of the competition.
Watched from the side by coach Stéphane Lapointe, Carlson stepped onto the platform with one final task and just three seconds of diving standing between the Canadian and her first win since 2024. Her Inward 3 Somersaults ½ Twist earned three 8.5s for 94.35 points, taking Carslon to 343.15 overall, locking in the Polignano a Mare win.
The Canadian knew she'd nailed her dive in the final
© Alex Voyer/Red Bull Content Pool
It was Carlson's fifth career victory and a striking contrast to her experience at the same venue last season. This time around, she seemed to just enjoy every moment, bringing an infectious enthusiasm to the competition that carried her through the final and saw her finish the season second in the World Series standings on 71 points, behind Iffland.
Prygorov celebrates second career win as Heslop takes the title
The men's final was a competition with two targets: Prygorov, Lichtenstein and Popovici were fighting for the Polignano a Mare podium, while Heslop was trying to protect his World Series lead with the King Kahekili trophy almost within reach.
Home wildcard Barnaba gave the crowd something to celebrate early in Round 4, his signature artistic, polished form on full display in his Back 3 Somersaults 3 Twists. Five 8.5s earned the Italian 119.85 points, taking his overall score to 368.45 and temporarily moving him into 1st with four divers remaining. The score sparked a round of cheers and chants from the local Polignano a Mare crowd, and once again when Barnaba claimed the best-dive bonus point for his Round 3 dive.
Romania's Popovici turned up the heat in the Italian final
© Alex Voyer/Red Bull Content Pool
Popovici was the first of the King Kahekili trophy contenders out on the platform. Sitting in 4th place in the event rankings coming into the Final, the Romanian went on the attack with a Back 4 Somersaults 3 Twists. After a strong start, Popovici's form slipped just slightly as he lined up for his barani, causing a slight overrotation on entry. The Romanian's dive carried a huge DD of 5.7, boosting the three 7.5s he earned from the judges for 128.25 points, the highest-scoring dive of the round. His final tally of 378.75 points overall moved him into 3rd and still in the title conversation.
Heslop followed with his Forward 4 Somersaults 3½ Twists carrying the highest DD of the round at 5.9, but five 6.5s left him with 115.05 points and 375.40 overall. With Lichtenstein still to go and Prygorov riding into the final on the back of an epic Round 3 performance, all Heslop could do was head to the beach to wait.
Lichtenstein was a contender for the podium AND the World Series title
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Lichtenstein made that wait a little more torturous as he took his time settling out on the platform ahead of his Back 5 Somersaults dive. Despite the pressure, the American found the right balance of speed and execution and earned 117.00 points. His Polignano a Mare total of 384.00 points overall took him to the top of the event standings, leaving Heslop to wait on the beach with the title still in play.
Oleksiy Prygorov was the last diver out on the World Series platform for 2026. The 39-year-old had been an outsider for the event podium after Round 1, but a huge Round 3 result had brought him back into contention. Prygorov attacked his Forward 4 Somersaults 2½ Twists with power, precisely manoeuvring his tall frame through the entry for a virtually splashless finish. Three 7.0s from the judges delivered the points he needed to take victory, his win cemented by just 1.05 points over Lichtenstein.
Prygorov looked stunned as the scores appeared, before being embraced by Iffland on the beach as she pointed to the scoreboard to confirm his win. The victory was Prygorov's second career World Series win, following his win at the 2024 season finale in Sydney.
It's me? It's me! Prygorov realises he's the Polignano a Mare winner
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
For Heslop, the wait was finally over. He finished 4th in the event, but with Lichtenstein unable to overtake him in the overall standings, the 2026 King Kahekili Trophy belonged to the Brit. He became only the second wildcard to win the men's World Series title, after Gary Hunt in 2025.
Automatic qualifications for 2027 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
Four women and four men have automatically qualified for the 2027 Permanent Divers line-up, with the remaining spots to be confirmed in November.
Who will take part next year in the 2027 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series?
The divers confirmed to return in 2027 include:
2027 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Women Permanent Divers
- Rhiannan Iffland (AUS)
- Molly Carlson (CAN)
- Simone Leathead (CAN)
- Kaylea Arnett (USA)
2027 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Men Permanent Divers
- Aidan Heslop (GBR)
- James Lichtenstein (USA)
- Constantin Popovici (ROU)
- Oleksiy Prygorov (UKR)
Please check back for the full Permanent Diver line-up.
The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series returns in 2027, with seven stops spanning four continents from March to November. Twenty-four of the world’s best cliff divers will take on five new locations, as the series continues to push into new territory.
The competition was shaped by rough conditions, demanding peak performance.
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Oleksiy Prygorov and Molly Carslon took the event wins in Italy
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Oleksiy Prygorov was the surprise contender for the Italian podium
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Job done: after a tense final, Heslop became the 2026 World Series champion
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
03
What went down on Day 2 in Polignano a Mare?
Two rounds of diving unfolded across Saturday in Polignano a Mare, with blustery winds and churning conditions in the sea below continuing to test every athlete out on the platform.
In the women's competition, Molly Carlson extended her lead in the race for the Polignano a Mare podium, while Oleksiy Prygorov emerged as a strong contender in the men's event. The fight for the men's King Kahekili trophy will go down to the wire, with Aidan Heslop clinging to his World Series lead, making Sunday's Final unmissable.
Molly Carlson strengthened her bid for the Italian podium on Day 2
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Carlson extends her lead, Pennisi shines
With the opportunity to secure a final victory shrinking with every dive, the churning Adriatic added another variable to the competition. The water could change from one dive to the next, forcing the divers to adapt on the platform, trust their experience and use every bit of technical skill to line up a clean entry. In rough conditions like these, the water has a way of exposing who can adjust their timing and technique when the picture changes.
The women kicked off Day 2 with Intermediate Dives capped at a 3.4 Degree of Difficulty, and it was Iffland who provided the first big talking point. Known for her remarkable consistency, the Australian diver struggled to make an impact at the season finale. Iffland's Forward 3 Somersaults ½ Twist finished with a heavy splash, earning five 5.5s from the judges. Shortly after, she needed assistance as she emerged from the water, clearly limping.
Elisa Cosetti amped up her home crowd with a strong performance in Round 2
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Kaylea Arnett soon followed with a sleek Forward 3 Somersaults ½ Twist, producing 76.50 points to move up the rankings and finish the round in 3rd. Italy's Elisa Cosetti then stepped up in front of her cheering home crowd, adding 69.70 points to her tally to move into 4th.
Xantheia Pennisi was next, launching from an armstand on the platform despite the blustery conditions. Her Armstand Forward 2½ Somersaults ½ Twist showcased her elegant pike before she nailed a clean and confident entry. Three 7.5s and 76.50 points took Pennisi to the top of the leaderboard, but only briefly, before Carlson's two 8.5s and an 8.0 extended the Canadian's lead at the top.
An injured Rhiannan Iffland was forced to end her season early
© Mauro Puccini/Red Bull Content Pool
Ahead of Round 3, Iffland then confirmed that she would retire from the competition, bringing her 10th World Series season to an early close.
"Look, it's definitely not the way that I intended to end my 10th season, but unfortunately sometimes you have to really look after yourself. I came in nursing a bit of an injury since Mostar, and I landed pretty short in the warm-up and it just took a toll on my body. Unfortunately I've had to withdraw. But there's still plenty to celebrate this weekend and it doesn't make me any less proud of what I've achieved this season. I had to make the best decision for myself looking into the future."
Prygorov closes in, Popovici and Heslop stay level
Round 2 of the men's competition launched from the 27m platform with no sign of let-up as the wind continued to hit the Puglian coastline. The men faced a Degree of Difficulty cap of 3.6 for their Intermediate Dives, with the waves continuing to make the timing of each entry a key part of the challenge.
Prygorov made the biggest move of the round, leapfrogging from 7th up to 3rd after earning the best score from the judges in the round – three 8.5s – for his Reverse 3 Somersaults 1 Twist.
Churning water made landing a rip entry extra-challenging
© Mauro Puccini/Red Bull Content Pool
American diver James Lichtenstein, who finished joint 7th with Prygorov in Round 1, followed up with a similar upward trajectory, moving into 4th place in Round 2 after a lengthy pause on the platform. Timing his dive carefully as the waves rolled through the landing zone, Lichtenstein threw down his Reverse 3 Somersaults with the right balance of speed and control, earning 86.40 points.
The closest battle of the Intermediate Dives came between title rivals Popovici and Heslop, who appeared to be in lockstep after another round of identical scores. Both divers went for an Inward 3 Somersaults ½ Twist, each scoring three 8.0s and 86.40 points to reach 160.60 overall. The pair remained level at the top of the Polignano a Mare standings after two rounds.
Heslop and Popovici matched points to share the top spot again in Round 2
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Heslop summed up the conditions as he made his way back from the beach: "It's windy out here today guys!"
Faulkner fires as Carlson holds on
Round 3 marked the first uncapped Optional Dives of the competition, with the women returning to the 21m platform.
Lisa Faulkner made the most impactful move of the round, making a play for a fourth career podium with a big-hitting dive. The former gymnast demonstrated her immense strength by holding a super-solid armstand on the platform for well over three seconds, before launching into her Armstand Back 2½ Somersaults 2 Twists into the wind and signing off with a stellar entry. Three 7.5s gave her 99.00 points from a 4.4 DD dive, lifting her from 8th into podium contention.
Relative newcomer Lisa Faulkner is hoping for a fourth career podium
© Mauro Puccini/Red Bull Content Pool
Dutch diver Ginni van Katwijk showed good control through her dive to move within striking distance of the podium, while American Arnett stayed in the mix with a solid dive and tight pike.
As the penultimate diver onto the platform, Pennisi went with a Back 3 Somersaults 2 Twists dive that has served her well throughout the season. She looked energised from the take-off, powering through the rotations before finding a confident entry. Her 92.40 points took her to 232.60 overall and 2nd place, with one final shot now remaining at her first career win.
Pennisi: lining up for a back-to-back podium after her 3rd place in Mostar
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Carlson closed out the women's Optional Dives with a Back 3 Somersaults 1 Twist, earning three 8.0s from the judges for 93.60 points. Despite some visible nerves, the Canadian stayed composed through the dive to land a third clean entry of the competition. The only diver to consistently score above 8.0 in all three rounds, Carlson extended her lead to 16.20 points at the end of Day 2.
"This is wild!" Carlson exclaimed as she climbed out of the choppy waters, summing up the feeling among the divers after a day of contending with the wind and waves. Commenting on her result on Day 2, she added:
Carlson's Polignano a Mare competition has a whole different vibe this year
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
"I'm extremely proud of my performance here in Italy. Typically I'm not someone who likes the uncomfortable – I get so much anxiety when it's unknown. We don't know the height, we don't know the wind, we don't know the waves. And jumping, I'm like, 'what's it gonna be?'"
"But I've been up there sparkling," she smiled, referring to her new hand-bejewelled, rhinestone-studded swimsuit. "I've been smiling. I'm honestly just having fun with the girls and I feel like my performance really showed that today."
"I've never done an event without Rhiannan finishing it, ever in my life, and she already came up to wish me good luck for tomorrow, which I think is lovely. We're going to miss her tomorrow, but at the end of the day it's going to be a really fun battle between the girls going at it. I'm just excited – I want to do well for myself, and if it ends up being a good result, we're going to celebrate extra hard. Especially if Aidan does well too," she laughed.
The women stepped up to the challenge in Italy and delivered on Day 2
© Mauro Puccini/Red Bull Content Pool
Prygorov lines up for Polignano a Mare podium, as Heslop hopes for the title
The men followed on Day 2 from the 27m platform for their first uncapped Optional Dives, with the chaotic sea conditions continuing to test the divers' timing through the final phase of each dive.
The most stylish dive of the competition so far came from Andrea Barnaba. The Italian wildcard supercharged the Polignano a Mare crowd with his Inward 3 Somersaults ½ Twist, picking up an immense 9.5 and two 9.0s from the judges. The result propelled Barnaba into 5th by end of day, with fellow Italian wildcard Davide Baraldi remaining close behind, leaving both home divers with a chance of pushing for the podium in the Final on Sunday.
Andrea Barnaba enjoyed the support of a huge home crowd
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
Nikita Fedotov then produced the highest individual dive score of the round. His Armstand Back 2½ Somersaults 3 Twists at 4.7 DD drew two 8.5s and an 8.0, but it was Prygorov who made the boldest move of Day 2. Compared to Popovici and Heslop's colossal DDs, the Ukrainian's Back 4 Somersaults 2 Twists carried a relatively modest 5.1 DD, leaving little room for error in the gusty conditions. Prygorov hit the right balance of speed and power, cutting through the water with barely a splash, earning 114.75 point-boost that lifted him to the top of the standings on 273.75.
Lichtenstein followed with an Armstand Back 4½ Somersaults at 5.4 DD, showing control through the rotations before finding the entry for 113.40 points and 267.00 overall.
Polignano a Mare provided possibly the toughest conditions all season
© Alex Voyer/Red Bull Content Pool
The title contenders were next. Popovici took on an Armstand Back 3½ Somersaults 3 Twists carrying 5.8 DD, but today's gamble with big, complicated dives versus challenging conditions didn't earn either Popovici or Heslop the points they were hoping for. Popovici overrotated and couldn't line up his entry, slipping to fourth, while Heslop carried significant speed through the rotations of his Back 4 Somersaults 3 Twists and was unable to pull it back before impact. The Brit earned 99.75 points to finish the day in 3rd.
One dive to decide it all
Prygorov heads into Sunday's Final at the top of the Polignano a Mare leaderboard, just 6.75 points ahead of Lichtenstein, with Heslop a further 6.65 points back. With 9.85 points separating Heslop and title rival Popovici, and the final uncapped dives still to come, there is still room for the standings to shift again.
In a separate battle for the men's World Series title, after three rounds in Polignano a Mare, Heslop currently leads the live overall standings on 81 points, with Lichtenstein 2nd on 73 and Popovici 3rd on 65. One final dive stands between the three men and the 2026 King Kahekili trophy.
Day 2 wrapped: one last dive will be a title-maker or heartbreaker
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
After a day in which the waves repeatedly shifted the landing zone, Sunday's Final will ask the divers to find that perfect line through the entry one more time. Prygorov has built the lead in Polignano a Mare, while Heslop, Lichtenstein and Popovici all have one last high-DD dive to throw down.
04
How to watch
Catch the Final Round of diving this season tomorrow, Sunday 27 September at 1:30 PM CEST | 11:30 AM GMT on YouTube @redbullcliffdiving and Red Bull TV, with broadcasts in English, Spanish and German.
Divers launched Round 1 from the balcony, as the Adriatic churned below
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
05
What went down on Day 1 in Polignano a Mare?
Blustery winds and a choppy Adriatic greeted the athletes on Day 1, with the Required Dives launching straight from the balconies in classic Polignano style. In tricky conditions, clean execution and nailing the entry were key to putting down a strong opening score.
Carlson commands as Iffland steadies the ship
The women’s Round 1 Required Dives, capped at a 2.6 Degree of Difficulty, got underway with Swiss wildcard Morgane Herculano setting the early pace with a clean Forward 2 somersaults ½ twist pike.
Not your everyday view from the balcony – unless you’re in Polignano A Mare
© Mauro Puccini/Red Bull Content Pool
It was a challenging start for reigning 2026 World Series champion Rhiannan Iffland, who had an uncharacteristically short training dive during the warm up session, but responded with a composed Reverse 2 Somersaults to draw three 8.0s from the judges. Iffland’s Round 1 score of 61.10 points saw her settle in joint fifth with Herculano, but with three rounds remaining in Italy, both Herculano and Iffland wrapped the day well within striking distance of a potential podium finish.
Local wildcard Elisa Cosetti’s appearance on the Amore di Mare balcony drew a big cheer from her home crowd, and the Italian diver delivered a solid Reverse 1 somersault to match St. Petersburg winner Kaylea Arnett’s 62.40 points. Cosetti and Arnett finished Day 1 of the final stop in joint third, also putting themselves right in the mix for the podium over the next two days.
Australian Xantheia Pennisi closed the round strongly to land 2nd in the rankings on 63.70 points, but the standout performance on Day 1 was produced by Molly Carlson. The Canadian was back in Polignano a Mare just two days after her 28th birthday, returning to the same location where her slip and fall during last year’s competition had, for a while, a profound impact on her confidence.
Molly Carlson made a statement return to Polignano a Mare
© Mauro Puccini/Red Bull Content Pool
There was no sign of that history weighing on her this time, though, as Carlson stepped up for her Forward 2 somersaults ½ Twist. Lining up for the dive, her timing couldn’t have been better as the churning water briefly stilled, allowing Carlson to spot her entry with pinpoint precision.Three 9.0s from the judges gave her 70.20 points, and ultimately a 6.5-point lead over Pennisi heading into Day 2.
Title rivals locked together
Oleksiy Prygorov opened the men’s Round 1 Required Dives from the balcony – capped at 2.8 – with a Reverse 2 Somersaults 1 Twist. The Ukrainian has one last chance to secure his automatic 2027 qualification spot, and will need to make the most of the remaining rounds to keep his qualification hopes alive.
With the home crowd behind him, Andrea Barnaba followed from the balcony with a quick take-off and clean Reverse 1 Somersault entry to bring a big cheer from the Italian fans. Later, as the sun dropped over Polignano a Mare, compatriot Davide Baraldi matched Barnaba’s 68.85 as the last diver on the men’s platform.
Andrea Barnaba is one of three Italians competing in front of a home crowd
© Mauro Puccini/Red Bull Content Pool
Wildcard Nikita Fedotov, who had left for Italy just two hours after the birth of his first son, made a statement of intent by producing one of the standout dives of the opening round. His Forward Flying 1 Somersault cut cleanly into the water with barely a splash, earning two 8.5s and a 9.0 from the judges for 72.80 points to place him 3rd in the Polignano rankings.
Title contender James Lichtenstein made his opening bid at the season finale with a clean rip entry on his Forward 3 Somersaults ½ Twist, earning three 8.0s for 67.20 points. The American’s Required Dive placed him in joint seventh alongside Prygorov, giving the American work to do over the remaining three rounds to keep the pressure on the other title contenders.
Gary Hunt, meanwhile, continued his bid for automatic 2027 qualification with a no-splash Forward 2 Somersaults ½ Twist, scoring 70.00 points to sit fourth – less than 4.5 points from the round’s top scorers.
Brit Heslop wrapped Day 1 in joint 1st with title rival Popovici
© Romina Amato/Red Bull Content Pool
At the close of Round 1 in the men's competition, two of the title fight's frontrunners were locked together at the top, with Popovici first to put down his dive. The Romanian set the benchmark with a precise Forward 3 Somersaults ½ Twist for 74.20 points, drawing two 9.0s and an 8.5 from the judges.
Popovici then had to wait for Heslop's turn on the balcony, but the wildcard matched his score – again earning two 9.0s and an 8.5 – with a controlled Forward 2 Somersaults ½ Twist. With Heslop arriving in Polignano leading in the World Series rankings, Popovici will need to seriously outpace the Brit across the remaining rounds to stay within touching distance of the coveted King Kahekili trophy.
Divers take on the elements of the rugged Puglian coast
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