Australia’s Rhiannan Iffland tops the women’s podium as Michal Navratil takes first ever Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series win at Welsh stop held under modified schedule on September 10, 2016.

The 31-year-old made a stunning return to action following knee surgery with a spectacular win in the Blue Lagoon in Pembrokeshire, Wales. In a competition held under a revised schedule due to Sunday’s bad weather outlook, Hunt finished just points away from a dream return to Great Britain in second place, while America’s Andy Jones continued his impressive form from the 27.5m-platform this season with another podium finish. In the women’s event, wildcard Iffland returned to winning ways to continue her magical debut season and pull further away at the top of the standings, while Lysanne Richard from Canada followed up her win in Italy with a second-place finish and Cesilie Carlton (USA) completed the podium in a sold out event at the circular-shaped former slate quarry.

A windy weather forecast in this south west corner of Wales meant that the competition had to be completed in one day for the first time in World Series history, and it was Navratil in his 8th year on the series who seemed to excel under the compressed conditions. The Czech showman, nicknamed Supratil and famous for his ’Superman’ dives at the end of events, had missed last month’s competition in Italy due to knee surgery, but returned with a near-perfect display of dives in this Colosseum-like setting and seize his first ever victory at the 53rd attempt in front of 2,800 spectators. Leading after the 3rd round, he narrowly held off the charge of pumped-up crowd favourite Gary Hunt, displaying no signs of pressure from almost three times the Olympic height after the Brit had moved into the lead with only the Czech left to dive.

The recently married Navratil moves up to 4th in the overall standings, while Hunt extends his lead at the top ahead of Mexican Jonathan Paredes, who could only finish 5th. California-based Andy Jones, already with two runner-up places in his pocket this year, further enhanced what is his best season so far with another brilliant performance to take 3rd place.

In the women’s competition, wildcard Rhiannan Iffland added more daylight between herself and her rivals at the top of the standings with a third win in four events this year. One day after her 25th birthday, the rookie from the Gold Coast had seen her winning streak stopped by Lysanne Richard in Italy two weeks ago, but bounced back in emphatic style by putting down three dives of the highest quality from 20m. Canadian Richard is not going to lay down quietly though, and having recorded another impressive 2nd place finish in Wales it looks like a thrilling battle is in store between the two heading into the final three events.

In two weeks’ time it’s a return to Mostar in Bosnia & Herzegovina, where 22 of the world’s best cliff divers will continue their battle from the historic Stari Most bridge as the 2016 season marches towards an exciting climax.