Iffland secures Cliff Diving World Series title

NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) athlete Rhiannan Iffland earned victory at the final stop of the 2023 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in New Zealand on Sunday, sealing the series title in style in front of more than 55,000 spectators across two competition days at windy Waitemata Harbour.

After a 20-week break since the last competition in Mostar, Iffland arrived in Auckland holding a 130-point lead over Canada’s Molly Carlson in the overall standings. The sensational Aussie showed no signs of rust as she closed out the season in typically dominant style as she earned another commanding victory from the 21m platform.

A 35th career win helped Iffland to secure another King Kahekili trophy – her seventh in a row – extending the Aussie’s astonishing dominance over women’s cliff diving for another year.

“I feel pretty emotional right now,” Iffland said. “It was a hard lead into the competition with the break that we took. To be honest it was like a fight with my mind, thinking is it going to go my way? Am I going to hold the pressure? But I continued training through it all and it definitely paid off, so I’m very, very proud of how today went,” she said.

 “Growing up, all the hard work that my parents put into my sporting career and to me as a young girl to get to where I am today, it’s super nice, so this one is for them as well. It’s going to be a nice little celebration with them tonight too,” she said.

Fellow Aussie Xantheia Pannisi, confirmed her growing status in the sport with a runner up spot – her fourth podium finish this season – a result which clinched third place for the 25-year-old in the overall standings.

Canada’s Jessica Macaulay, in her final World Series appearance before retiring from the sport, produced a fitting finale to her career by completing the women’s podium in New Zealand.

Carlson meanwhile, whose victory in Mostar had kept her slim title hopes alive and guaranteed at the very least a runner-up spot overall, could only finish fourth as she missed out on a podium place for the first time this season.

Australia’s third entry, wildcard Emily Chinnock finished eighth in Auckland.

Rhiannan Iffland AUS – 365.00pts.

Xantheia Pennisi AUS – 337.10

Jessica Macaulay CAN – 331.00

Article and image courtesy of Diving Australia