Day one of Diving Australia’s 2025 World Aquatics Championships campaign started with gold on the women’s 20-metre high diving platform and ended with gold on the women’s 1-metre springboard.

Rhiannan Iffland, the most decorated high diver in history, went into the Championships as the one to beat, hoping to bring home her fifth World Title.

Leading right from the prelims, the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder held her position at the top throughout the competition, executing two outstanding dives on round 5 and 6 as her rivals fought to catch up, maintaining her renowned composure to secure the Gold.

“I have already achieved four in the past, and I was wondering about the possibility of winning a fifth,” Iffland said. “I came into this event knowing I could be fighting for it, but it wasn’t my main goal.”

“It’s insane, I’m blown away, I’m kinda speechless right now. I never would have thought 10 years ago I would be holding my fifth medal.”

Maddison Keeney returned to the 1-metre Springboard after winning the World Title in 2017 before focusing on the Olympic 3-metre event in recent years where she won the silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

After qualifying in first place for the World Championships final, Keeney never faulted through the competition, holding off challenges from China’s Yajie Li and Italy’s Chiara Pellacani to calmly hold her nerve with the final dive of the night to solidify her victory.

“I’m really relieved. I know that I can do well in this event. I haven’t had a lot of practice… I haven’t competed in it in six-seven years so I was a bit nervous but I had a really good time and I am really happy,” Keeney said.

Keeney now turns her attention to the 3-metre springboard events where she will take on individual event and join new partner Alysha Koloi for the synchronised competition.

On Sunday, the Australian Team will turn their attention to the Men’s High Diving Finals with Zach Picton along with the Men’s 1m Springboard involving Hudson Skinner and Ben Wilson along with the Mixed 10-metre Synchro with Cassiel Rousseau and NSWIS athlete and Paris Olympian Ellie Cole.

Diving Australia

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