BOSTON. Rhiannan Iffland stepped to the edge of a platform nearly seven stories above Boston Harbor, with thousands of cheering fans packed onto docks, roofs, and sidewalks below. As she soared through the air, the city’s skyline disappeared behind her, rocketing toward the tea-brown water.
This is all in a day’s work for one of the world’s elite cliff divers. Iffland, from Australia, remarked on the fierce competition among the cliff divers jumping from the Institute of Contemporary Art during Saturday’s contest in Boston.
“I know the pressure’s coming — and the young girls are diving super well,” Iffland said after clinching victory in the women’s section.
Iffland’s triumph was part of cliff diving’s marquee event, as the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series celebrated its 100th stop in history. Participants plunged from up to 90 feet (27 meters) in the air from the waterfront art museum into the chilly harbor below. British diver Aidan Heslop emerged victorious in the men’s competition and remarked, “We’ve all got our work cut out for us” for the remainder of the series.
Boston is the only U.S. stop this year, with the series concluding in Sydney, Australia, in November.
Cliff diving attracts a special kind of athlete, especially when winning means leaping from an art museum into potentially frigid waters. “These epic athletes train super hard to make sure every leap, somersault, twist, and entry is perfect,” organizers said in a statement.
Practice and early competition rounds took place on Friday, with judges scoring Saturday’s competitive round based on the divers’ form and technique. Two dozen people competed in the event.
This marks the third consecutive year that the popular spectator event has visited Boston. Organizers reported an impressive turnout of 45,000 people for the weekend.
The Institute of Contemporary Art described the event as a visually stunning opportunity for the public and a chance for athletes to earn “crucial championship points along the way based on their final event positions.”
In the heart of New England, cliff diving enthusiasts witnessed breathtaking feats of athleticism as divers leaped from extraordinary heights into Boston Harbor, making for an unforgettable spectacle.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
