Courtesy: Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
A sensational display puts Romania’s Catalin Preda on top of the podium for a second time, while Rhiannan Iffland returns to winning ways in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in France.
Catalin Preda of Romania secured a dominant victory at the second stop of the 2022 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in its most prominent setting yet across the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Saturday, posting the highest-ever total event score as he powered past reigning champion Gary Hunt of France with the day’s final dive.
In the women’s competition, Australia’s Rhiannan Iffland was back to her imperious best in the French capital, turning the tables on Canadian rival Molly Carlson to take her first win of the season cheered on by more than 20,000 spectators defying the heat along the Seine River.
Molly Carlson of Canada, Rhiannan Iffland of Australia and Eleanor Smart of the USA celebrate on the podium during the final competition day of the second stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Paris, France on June 18, 2022. Photo: Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
Preda, labelled one of the ‘Romanian sharks’ by Hunt last season, went into attack mode right from the first round, scoring a 10 from the judges with his opening leap into the Seine River on Friday. Two more high-scoring dives followed, before the 30-year-old held his nerve under pressure in round four, picking up another two 10s on his way to a record-breaking total score.
“We got into the exact same sequence as last year and I did it again here in Paris. There’s got to be something about the French land and the French people’s support. Having my family here today was extremely special and I really want to thank them so much. I’m over the moon,” the new overall standings leader was almost lost for words.
It was Preda’s second World Series victory following a similar triumph over Hunt at the 2021 season opener, again on French soil in Saint-Raphaël.
Local hero and World Series record man Gary Hunt produced a very strong showing on day 1 with three 10s by the five judges for his Required Dive; in Round 2 the reigning champion topped it with another 10 from the judges. In the end it was a place sandwiched between the Romanian duo with Constantin Popovici, the man with the hardest dive list on tour, completing the men’s podium.
Gary Hunt of France dives from the 27.5 metre platform during the final competition day for the second stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Paris, France on June 18, 2022. Photo: Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
For Iffland, a rare defeat in Boston two weeks ago at the hands of the up-and-coming star Carlson had forced the five-time champion to reassess and switch her tactics in France. It was a move which paid off in the scorching Parisian heat as the 30-year-old surged past her younger rival to make it 14 wins in her last 15 World Series competitions.
“I’m not a hundred percent sure it paid off for me to change the order of my dives but I didn’t want to have the same dives at the same time with Molly. It is more difficult doing the most difficult dive in the end because it’s harder to control the nerves. I think I’ll play around a bit more with the dives this year and see how it goes. I’m certainly excited for a great battle,” the 30-year-old athlete from Sydney in a first statement, who also leads the overall standings tied with her Canadian rival Carlson.
The third spot in the women’s went to America’s Ellie Smart, who celebrated her second World Series podium after her second place in Mostar 2019.
How is the title fight shaping up?
In the women’s competition, it looks like we could be in for a thrilling two-way title tussle between Iffland and Carlson this season. While the Australian remains the strong favourite due to her experience and exceptional talent, the signs are that this season the ‘Dominator from Down Under’ might have a real fight on her hands to keep hold of the King Kahekili Trophy.
As for the men, we’ve seen some great title duels over the years – Orlando Duque v Hunt, Artem Silchenko v Hunt, Jonathan Paredes v Hunt – but this year there is the very real possibility of a first-ever four way title fight to the finish.
While Aidan Heslop didn’t produce a repeat of his victorious Boston display here in Paris, the 20-year-old has all the tools and the nerve to join Preda, Hunt and this weekend’s third-placed Constantin Popovici in the race for the men’s overall title.
From boiling hot Paris, the World Series travels on to the next European capital city when the cliff diving elite will be hosted in Copenhagen on July 16, including a debut for the women in Denmark.
Quotes from the winners
Rhiannan Iffland, AUS
Since Boston, I had a completely different attitude. Coming into the second stop I really felt I had to take a step back and reassess what I was doing and kind of appreciate the diving a little bit more. It’s a strange thing, coming from Boston to here I had a goal and that was to do the dives for not under nine on the first day and I achieved that goal. So today I came totally ready to go. I’m really proud in how resilient I was and how I dealt with the pressure. That’s the biggest thing for me.
On the training day I noticed only when I left that I didn’t look at the Eiffel Tower all day, but when I was competing I made it a point to myself to stand up there and have a look around and take in the scenery. It’s incredible standing up there looking around and realizing this is my life!
Catalin Preda, ROU
It’s the same situation as last year, we got into the exact same sequence as last year and I did it again here in Paris. There’s got to be something about the French land and the French people’s support, having my family here today was extremely special and I really want to thank them so much. I’m over the moon.
I want to thank everyone who helped me come here and dive so close to the Eiffel Tower. Paris will remain one of the most special moments for the rest of my life.
Results – Stop #2, Paris, FRA
WOMEN
1- Rhiannan Iffland AUS – 383.15pts.
2- Molly Carlson CAN – 350.70
3- Eleanor Smart USA – 314.80 4- Jessica Macaulay CAN – 291.55 5- Xantheia Pennisi AUS – 285.80 6- Adriana Jimenez MEX – 275.85 7- Maria Paula Quintero COL – 240.35 8- Anna Bader (W) GER – 240.10 9- Yana Nestsiarava IAT – 239.65 10- Aimee Harrison (W) CAN – 233.60 11- Celia Fernandez (W) ESP – 204.05 12- Jaki Valente (W) BRA – 167.20
MEN
1- Catalin Preda ROU – 470.50pts. 2- Gary Hunt FRA – 438.05
3- Constantin Popovici ROU – 432.90 4- Carlos Gimeno (W) ESP – 401.40 5- Alessandro De Rose ITA – 394.90 6- Aidan Heslop GBR – 391.30 7- Nikita Fedotov IAT– 380.55 8- Blake Aldridge (W) GBR – 374.80 9- Sergio Guzman (W) MEX – 369.50 10- Oleksiy Prygorov UKR – 365.50 11- Jonathan Paredes MEX – 346.80 12- Artem Silchenko (W) IAT – 323.75
Standings (after 2 of 8 stops) WOMEN
1- Rhiannan Iffland AUS – 360pts. 1- Molly Carlson CAN – 360
3- Eleanor Smart USA – 240
4- Jessica Macaulay CAN – 202 5- Xantheia Pennisi AUS – 168
MEN
1- Catalin Preda (W) ROU – 330pts. 2- Gary Hunt FRA – 320
3- Aidan Heslop GBR – 276
4- Alessandro De Rose ITA – 202 5- Carlos Gimeno (W) ESP – 172