Imperious Hunt and Iffland star in Italy at stunning cliff setting

England’s Gary Hunt and Rhiannan Iffland of Australia stretched their lead at the top of the 2019 Red Bull Cliff DivingWorld Series standings with comfortable victories in Polignano a Mare.

Hunt was at his brilliant best in Italy, finishing 50 points ahead of American Andy Jones with Czech Michal Navratil in third as Mexican Jonathan Paredes fell back.Sixty-thousand fans watched on as Iffland also took command, powering past Colombia’s young star Maria Paula Quintero to complete her hat-trick at the spectacular Adriatic Sea location while Belarusian Yana Nestsiaravacompleted the women’s podium.

Rhiannan Iffland of Australia dives from the 21 metre platform during the final competition day of the third stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Polignano a Mare, Italy on June 2, 2019.
Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool

Hunt, 34, said: “Jonathan (Paredes) absolutely nailed his first dive today, but I kept my most difficult dive to the end and it did the job. My biggest rival this year (Romania’s Constantin Popovici) is not diving in this competition – he got an injury – so I am hoping he is going to come back fast and battle it out.”

Iffland, 27, explained: “I always put my more difficult dive on day one just to get it out of my mind when I am a bit more fresh. This last dive is actually my favourite one. It is paying off for me this year. Now I can celebrate a Polignano a Mare hat-trick too.”

Red Bull Cliff Diving men’s Italy result:
1. Gary Hunt GBR 418.75
2. Andy Jones USA 368.75
3. Michal Navratil CZE 368.25

2019 Red Bull Cliff Diving men’s standings:
1. Gary Hunt GBR 400 points
2. Andy Jones USA 220
3. Kris Kolanus POL 200

Red Bull Cliff Diving women’s Italy result:
1. Rhiannan Iffland AUS 324
2. Maria Paula Quintero COL 278.95
3. Yana Nestsiarava BLR 278.15

2019 Red Bull Cliff Diving women’s standings:
1. Rhiannan Iffland AUS 400 points
2. Yana Nestsiarava BLR 290
3. Lysanne Richard CAN 240