Another unforgettable stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series was held in Mostar, and Rhiannan Iffland and Constantin Popovici won in front of a large audience.
After three rounds held on Thursday and Friday, which offered spectacular jumps, excitement, twists and turns and suspense, Saturday was reserved for the fourth and final round of the stop in Mostar. This round was led by Australian Rhiannan Iffland and Constantin Popovici.
The fourth round was opened by Colombian Isabel Perez, a debutant in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, with an excellent jump in front of a large audience in Mostar, but also viewers next to the small screens.
The competition in the women’s category offered numerous attractive jumps, and the unstoppable Australian Rhiannan Iffland confirmed her dominance once again. She stood on the platform, enjoyed the moment and the energy, then asked for and received a thunderous cheer from the crowd, and then performed a fantastic jump. With this, she not only recorded another victory, but also secured her ninth consecutive title in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series on the penultimate stop of the season.
The King Kahekili Trophy will be awarded to her in Boston.
She was joined on the podium by compatriot Xantheia Pennisi and American Kaylea Arnett.
“I’m in shock right now, I can’t believe I secured the title here in Mostar, it’s absolutely crazy. I’m going to enjoy Boston to the fullest. It’s been a tough year, I didn’t know how things would go because of the fewer stops. It’s an incredible feeling to win the title on the penultimate stop, I’ve worked hard for this, and now I’m enjoying it,” Iffland said.
She showed emotion as she stood on the platform before the jump.
“Yes, it was crazy. I have a ritual that I go through in my head. There were also a few tears, I felt gratitude for everything I do and the life I live through my sport and the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. It was great, I love you all,” added the Australian.
The men also impressed the crowd with their skills and daring jumps, and the victory went to Popovici thanks to an almost perfect jump and despite the problem of a leg injury. The Romanian celebrated in front of the American James Lichtenstein and the Frenchman Gary Hunt. The one performed by Andrea Barnaba was chosen as the best jump.
“I felt pain during the last week, so I didn’t know what to expect here. I didn’t train at all, except today’s 20-meter jump. It felt good, but during the jump in the fourth round I stretched my muscle again, so I’m happy that I didn’t train beforehand. I took care of my body and counted on my experience. I focused, left everything aside and did what I know,” said Popovici.
He is in a good position to fight for the title at the last stop of the season.
“What’s the worst that can happen? I’ll go there and do my jumps. It’s difficult, Gary has a few points ahead. I relied on the other jumpers to ‘shuffle’ the order a bit, but the difference is still big. However, there’s one stop left until the end of the season, four more rounds. It will be a fight until the last jump,” said the Romanian.
We remind you that previously Mostar “came to life” from the early hours of the morning, and numerous Mostar residents, visitors and tourists enjoyed a walk and the rich gastronomic offer of the city on the Neretva. Also, a special train arrived from Sarajevo, which was organized to visit Mostar and enjoy the spectacle of Red Bull Cliff Diving. The ride on one of the most beautiful railway routes in Europe took place in a pleasant atmosphere with the sound of the guitar and the refreshing energy drink Red Bull.
The program in Mostar opened with the performance of the famous BiH. singer and “queen of sevdah” Hanka Paldum, who sang her song “Ali pamtim jos” from the platform set up on the Stari most, which was a great and fitting introduction to what the audience was expecting in the sequel. The best male and female jumpers presented themselves to the gathered crowd from a boat on the Neretva and were greeted with applause on their way to the platform set up on the port of the Old Bridge.
The atmosphere was further enhanced by Red Bull Skydiving team parachutists Marco Waltenspiel and Marco Fürst, who, after jumping out of the plane, flew under the arch of the Old Bridge and landed in the Neretva River. Gaga and Stihi from the Helem Nejse group, as well as host Zoran Filičić, were responsible for hosting the program and creating a good atmosphere, while DJ Soul provided the music.
Unlike the first round, when the stars of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series jumped directly from the arch of the Old Bridge, a platform was used for the second, third and final fourth rounds. The women jumped from a height of 21 meters, and the men from 27 meters.
The last stop of the season is scheduled for September 19 in Boston. Whether Popovic will win his second King Kahekili trophy or Hunt will become champion for the 11th time remains to be seen.
