Rhiannan Iffland stood on a platform nearly seven stories high above Boston Harbor, with thousands of cheering fans gathered below on docks, roofs, and sidewalks. She flew through the air, the city skyline disappearing behind her, plunging towards the tea-colored water.
For Iffland, an elite cliff diver from Australia, this was just another day’s work in her sport, where sometimes the edge isn’t actually a cliff.
She described the competition during the Saturday event at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston as intense. “I feel the pressure, especially with the younger girls diving so well,” Iffland said after winning the women’s competition.
Iffland’s victory was part of the main event in cliff diving, marking the 100th stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.
Divers leapt from heights of up to 90 feet (27 meters) above the waterfront art museum into the cold harbor below. Aidan Heslop from Britain won the men’s competition and acknowledged the challenge ahead in the rest of the series.
Spectators on Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series (Via Elena Baker/Getty Images)
Boston was the sole stop in the United States this year, with the series concluding in Sydney, Australia, in November.
Organizers highlighted that cliff diving attracts a unique breed of athletes, particularly when winning involves jumping from an art museum into potentially icy waters.
“These extraordinary athletes train rigorously to ensure each jump, somersault, twist, and entry is flawless,” organizers stated.
The event included practice sessions and early rounds on Friday, with judges scoring Saturday’s competitive round based on the divers’ skill and technique. A total of twenty-four competitors took part.
This was the third consecutive year that Boston hosted the popular event, drawing 45,000 spectators over the weekend.
