All hail ‘Queen Rhi’ for seizing ninth King Kahekili crown

Even though there’s one more event to contest, New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship athlete Rhiannan Iffland sealed her ninth consecutive Red Bull Cliff Diving King Kahekili Trophy by winningher event in the historic Bosnia and Herzegovina city of Mostar.

Iffland, the undisputed queen of high diving, used the world-renowned 16^th century Stari Most bridge, which spans the glacial waters of the Neretva River as her stage to thrill 25,000 cheering spectators – and a global audience.

She celebrated her 44^th career victory – and 52^nd career podium – with an almost flawless performance over the competition’s four rounds. She locked in her ninth King Kahekili Trophy celebration – and first victory in Mostar since 2022 – after compiling a total of 363.15 points.

Testimony to the manner in which she dominated the event, Iffland collected a bonus point for completing the best women’s dive Iin the second round) of the contest.

“I’m kind of in shock right now, I can’t believe that it’s wrapped up here, that’s totally crazy!” said Iffland, who is coached by NSWIS’s Joel Rodriguez. “I’m going to enjoy Boston [the final stop] to the fullest..

“It’s been a tough year. I didn’t know how it was going to go in terms of the number of events… but to take the title at the penultimate stop, that’s an incredible feeling. I’ve worked so hard for it. And here we are, I want to enjoy it.”

Iffland appeared to be emotional as she prepared for her final dive, the dive that would allow her to create history.

“I have this little ritual that I go through in my head, and it’s the list of 12-year-old little Rhi and things she would be proud of,” Iffland explained to the media throng.

“I actually started to tear up, up there, because I was just so grateful for what I’m doing and the life that I’m living through my sport, and here in the world of Red Bull Cliff Diving. So that was very, very cool.”

Iffland, who won the World Aquatic Championships gold medal in Singapore, will compete in the final Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Boston, USA on 19-20 September.

Daniel Lane, NSWIS.

Photo courtesy of Red Bull