France’s Gary Hunt returned to the top of the podium for the first time in three years and Australia’s Rhiannan Iffland made the perfect start in her bid to win a ninth straight King Kahekili Trophy as the 2025 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series kicked off in the spectacular setting of El Nido, Philippines. Here is all you need to know:

– The new season saw the sport transported back to its purest form with three days of competition on the cliffs surrounding the ethereal Lagen Island. Competitors were able to showcase their most daring dives from man-made platforms into the picturesque Blue Lagoon.

– In the men’s competition, it was 10-time champion Hunt — appearing as a wildcard after vacating his permanent place on the tour last season in order to fulfil his Olympic dream on home soil — who claimed victory with a brilliant Back 3 Somersaults 4 Twists Free in the final round.

– Hunt, 40, said: “I feel great, I can’t wait to tell my wife. We’ve been travelling the last six months and I’ve only had maybe eight or nine sessions in the pool since the Olympics. My head was on the chopping block and if I didn’t do well here it was goodbye to the season. They’re going to have to invite me back now.”

– Mexico’s Jonathan Paredes secured his best result since 2019 with a surprise second-place finish, while Romanian Constantin Popovici completed the top three. This meant that it was the first time in history that two wildcards had posted a 1-2, while the combined ages of the top three made it the ‘oldest’ podium ever.

– There were no such twists on the 21m platform as Iffland, the dominant force in the women’s competition since 2016, once again showcased her quality by finishing on top of the podium to claim her 42nd victory in 52 starts.

– Iffland, 33, said: “I’m super, super happy, and I feel relieved to be honest. I came in not so confident, I didn’t know if I could do it and I’ve done it. It’s a beautiful but challenging location, and it shows those who have experience are going to have the upper hand.”

– The reigning champion was joined on the podium by two rising stars in the sport, both of whom were competing for the first time as permanent athletes following their well-earned upgrades at the end of last season.

– American Kaylea Arnett, who briefly led the standings after round one, claimed the runner-up spot to make it four podiums in six career starts, edging the young up-and-comer Nelli Chukanivska into third place , a repeat of last year’s finale performance for the 18-year-old Ukrainian.

– As well as the points earned for their final positions, Popovici and Iffland both pocketed a bonus championship point for laying down the best dives of the competition; a Forward 2 Somersaults ½ Twist Pike for the Romanian powerhouse in round two, and a victory-clinching Inward 3 Somersaults ½ Twist Tuck for the invincible Aussie.

Following three intense days, the cliff diving elite will not take a two-month break before returning to Polignano a Mare – the home of European cliff diving – for the season’s second stop at the end of June in Italy.

Results Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series El Nido

WOMEN
1. Rhiannan Iffland AUS – 352.95pts.
2. Kaylea Arnett USA – 320.65
3. Nelli Chukanivska UKR – 313.80
4. Meili Carpenter USA – 280.20
5. Molly Carlson CAN – 279.65
6. Simone Leathead CAN – 275.90
7. Iris Schmidbauer (W) GER – 265.95
8. Xantheia Pennisi (W) AUS – 261.40
9. Maria Paula Quintero (W) COL – 260.60
10. Elisa Cosetti ITA – 255.55
11. Ginni van Katwijk NED – 231.00
12. Eleanor Smart (W) USA – 223.60

MEN
1. Gary Hunt (W) FRA – 422.10pts.
2. Jonathan Paredes (W) MEX – 381.90
3. Constantin Popovici ROU – 381.15
4. Oleksiy Prygorov UKR – 353.35
5. Carlos Gimeno ESP – 339.10
6. Nikita Fedotov (W) ARM – 328.10
7. Yolotl Martinez MEX – 313.85
8. Miguel Garcia (W) COL – 270.60
9. Braden Rumpit (W) NZL – 247.35
10. Catalin Preda (W) ROU – 238.30
11. James Lichtenstein USA – 219.65
12. Andrea Barnaba ITA – DNF

Standings (after 1 of 4 rounds)

WOMEN
1. Rhiannan Iffland AUS – 21pts.
2. Kaylea Arnett USA – 16
3. Nelli Chukanivska UKR – 13
4. Meili Carpenter USA – 10
5. Molly Carlson CAN – 8

MEN
1. Gary Hunt (W) FRA – 20pts.
2. Jonathan Paredes (W) MEX – 16
3. Constantin Popovici ROU – 14
4. Oleksiy Prygorov UKR – 10
5. Carlos Gimeno ESP – 8

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