Cliff diving is always spectacular, but never with a backdrop like this.
Competitors in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series jumped from a purpose-built 27m platform in the middle of Sydney Harbour, with the Harbor Bridge and Opera House as the unmistakable backdrop to the equally impressive dives .
The World Series of Cliff Diving took place over eight stages this season. (Getty Images: Romina Amato/Red Bull)
Australian champion Rhiannon Iffland made a fairytale return to her homeland, winning the first stage in Sydney to underline her status as world number one.
Newcastle-born Iffland, who claimed her sixth consecutive world title at the previous tour stop in Bari, Italy, in September, amassed 387.75 points to claim top spot when the high-dive show made his first visit to Australia.
Female competitors search from a platform 21 meters high. (Getty Images: Romina Amato/Red Bull)
She beat young Canadian Molly Carlson into second place, with Eleanor Smart of the USA finishing third.
Canadian Molly Carlson was second in Sydney. (Getty Images: Dean Treml/Red Bull)
“This is my sixth title and it’s really, really special,” Iffland, 31, said after receiving the trophy, named after a legendary Hawaiian king, from Ms Macquarie’s chair overlooking Sydney Harbor .
Newcastle’s Rhiannan Iffland has won six consecutive world titles. (Getty Images: Dean Treml/Red Bull)
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“I’m really speechless. I knew I was going in and holding the King Kahekili trophy regardless of the result today, so I guess that took the pressure off a little bit.
Winners are the ones who smile, especially when the victory comes at home. (Getty Images: Romina Amato/Red Bull)
“But I still had a job to do. I wanted to put on a really good show in front of our crowd. I managed to do that and that’s another point on the list.”
Gary Hunt won his record 10th title. (Getty Images: Romina Amato/Red Bull)
The men’s competition was won for a record 10th time by French diver Gary Hunt, ahead of Britain’s Aidan Heslop and Romania’s Catalin Preda.
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