Sport
Red Bull - Iffland Remains Invincible As She Secures
| 2025-09-06 |   |
Ninth Red Bull Cliff Diving Title In Mostar
Australian wraps up the title with one stop remaining after emerging victorious in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Australia’s Rhiannan Iffland secured a record-extending ninth Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series title with victory in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina, while Romanian Constantin Popovici recorded his 10th career victory to remain in contention for a second King Kahekili trophy.
Here is all you need to know:
- In the women’s competition, Iffland delivered another stunning display of consistency and unerring precision as she wrapped up the title with a stop to spare. Just days before her 34th birthday, the Australian began the celebrations early as she thrilled a huge crowd on the Neretva River.
- While Thursday’s first round set the tone for the irrepressible champion, it was Friday’s second round stunner from the 21m platform which propelled her to the cusp of a ninth successive title – a sumptuous Forward 3 Somersaults 1⁄2 Twist Pike which earned scores of 9.5 from the judges and a barely needed bonus championship point for the competition’s best dive.
- By the time Iffland surfaced from her fourth and final dive, 33 points separated her from fellow Aussie Xantheia Pennisi in second place, who herself had excelled following a last-minute wildcard invite due to Molly Carlson’s absence.
- Completing the women’s podium at the third of four stops was American Kaylea Arnett, a result which elevates her into second place overall ahead of Canada’s Simone Leathead, who could only place eighth in Mostar.
- Iffland said: “I’m kind of in shock right now, I can’t believe that it’s wrapped up here. I didn’t know how it was going to go this year with fewer events, so to take the title at the penultimate stop is an incredible feeling. I’ve worked really hard for it and I want to enjoy it. I started to tear up, up there, because I’m just so grateful for what I’m doing and the life that I’m living through my sport.”
- In the men’s event, 36-year-old Popovici overcame a nagging thigh injury to secure his third victory in Mostar and set up a mouthwatering final showdown with Gary Hunt. Trailing his French rival by 14 points in the overall standings coming into this stop, the Romanian knew that victory was imperative to push himself into genuine contention.
- Starting out with scores of 8 in the first round and 8.5 in the second, Popovici then exploded with a mammoth third round Armstand Back 31⁄2 Somersaults 3 Twists Pike – drawing 9s from the judges to surge into a commanding lead.
- He then delivered a Back 4 Somersaults 3 Twists Pike to cruise 39 points clear of second-placed American James Lichtenstein, who himself had recently earned gold at both the World Aquatics High Diving Championships and World Cup.
- Victory for Popovici, coupled with a third-place finish for 41-year-old Hunt, means the two title contenders are now separated by just seven points in the overall standings. Meanwhile, Mexico’s Jonathan Paredes and Spaniard Carlos Gimeno, who were tied in second place overall before this stop, finished in fifth and sixth place, respectively.
- Popovici said: “It’s my first win of the season, so better late than never. Also it’s my 10th win, so another milestone. Today I won, last time I was fifth, so the same can happen to Gary. If he gets second place in Boston, it’s enough for him, but the battle is to the last dive of the season.”
- From history-soaked Mostar, the cliff diving elite will travel to Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art in two weeks, where Iffland will be crowned champion once again and all eyes will be on Hunt and Popovici as they face off for glory at the season finale.
Results Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Mostar
WOMEN
1- Rhiannan Iffland AUS – 363.15pts.
2- Xantheia Pennisi (W) AUS – 330.80
3- Kaylea Arnett USA – 323.95
4- Lisa Faulkner (W) USA – 321.45
5- Maria Paula Quintero (W) COL – 308.95
6- Meili Carpenter USA – 301.60
7- Ginni van Katwijk NED – 297.30
8- Simone Leathead CAN – 288.70
9- Nelli Chukanivska UKR – 285.20
10- Paula Gilabert (W) ESP – 270.05
11- Elisa Cosetti ITA – 267.75
12- Isabel Perez (W) COL – 254.25
Standings (after 3 of 4 events)
1- Rhiannan Iffland AUS – 62pts.
2- Kaylea Arnett USA – 36
3- Simone Leathead CAN – 29
4- Nelli Chukanivska UKR – 25
5- Lisa Faulkner (W) USA – 23
MEN
1- Constantin Popovici ROU – 459.00pts.
2- James Lichtenstein USA – 420.30
3- Gary Hunt (W) FRA – 412.10
4- Miguel Garcia (W) COL – 390.90
5- Jonathan Paredes (W) MEX – 390.25
6- Carlos Gimeno ESP – 388.55
7- Oleksiy Prygorov UKR – 377.95
8- Catalin Preda (W) ROU – 370.35
9- Andrea Barnaba ITA – 352.95
10- David Colturi (W) USA – 347.50
11- Davide Baraldi (W) ITA – 316.55
12- Scott Lazeroff (W) USA – 260.10
Standings (after 3 of 4 events)
1- Gary Hunt (W) FRA – 49pts.
2- Constantin Popovici ROU – 42
3- Jonathan Paredes (W) MEX – 37
4- Carlos Gimeno ESP – 36
5- James Lichtenstein USA – 24
Photographer Credit :
Romina Amato / Red Bull Content Pool
Dean Treml / Red Bull Content Pool
Predrag Vuckovic / Red Bull Content Pool