Pursuit of perfection fuels Rhiannan Iffland's next leap off a cliff

Rhiannan Iffland of Australia dives from the 22 meter platform in the Big Lagoon during the final competition day of the first stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in El Nido, Philippines on April 13, 2025. Romina Amato, Red Bull Content Pool

EL NIDO, Palawan -- As she discussed her latest victory in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, Australia's Rhiannan Iffland kept looking and gesturing at the towering outcrop behind her, from which a pair of platforms jutted out.

Moments earlier, she had leapt off a height of 21-meters and into the deep blue waters of the Big Lagoon in El Nido, Palawan. Her effort earned her high scores -- a pair of 9s and a 9.5 -- that secured her place at the top of the podium on Sunday afternoon. 

"Just super stoked to finish it off like that and take the top of the podium again here in the Philippines," said Iffland, as she again turned her gaze to the cliff. "I couldn't be happier. The energy was amazing."

Six years ago, when the Red Bull competition made its inaugural stop in El Nido in 2019, Iffland had ruled the cliffs as well. She went on to win her fourth straight cliff diving world championship that year -- a run of dominance that has yet to be stopped. 

There was no Cliff Diving World Series in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But when they returned to action in 2021, Iffland simply picked up from where she left off, and won again. She strung together four more titles, and by the time she returned to El Nido, there was no doubting her status in the sport. 

Iffland is "the best in the world at diving from a 21m platform," according to the Red Bull website. Even now, as she is being pushed by new contenders, Iffland continues to find ways to stay on top of the podium. In El Nido, there was Kaylea Arnett of the United States, who took the lead after the opening day, and Ukrainian Nelli Chukanivska, an 18-year-old wunderkind who looks to be part of the sport's new guard.

"You know, it's never good to be too confident in a sport like this because diving is so inconsistent and you can never rule out your competitors," Iffland said, after celebrating with Arnett, who finished second, and Chukanivska, who wound up in third place.

"I think today and yesterday and the last three days, the experience really showed up. I think the experience that I have is really in my corner, and I was trying to use it to my advantage. So I think that helped," she added.

READ: Australia's Iffland remains queen of El Nido cliffs

-- NINTH STRAIGHT TITLE? --

Rhiannan Iffland of Australia reacts after diving from the 22 meter platform in the Big Lagoon during the final competition day of the first stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in El Nido, Philippines on April 13, 2025. Ricardo Nascimento, Red Bull Content Pool

There's not much left to prove for the 33-year-old Iffland, who has compiled a resume that would put her on par with some of the world's greatest athletes. Yet Iffland does not see herself stopping anytime soon, as her motivation now goes beyond adding more trophies to her already bursting collection.

After the second day in El Nido, Iffland had overtaken Arnett for the lead with her leap into the Small Lagoon. Her performance "could've been better, could've been worse," and that only pushed Iffland to go for broke the next day, when the competition wrapped up at the Big Lagoon.

"I think one thing I also enjoy is those challenges. I enjoy overcoming those challenges. I think it's also like the constant chase of perfection as well. It's the pursuit of perfection," Iffland told reporters after Day 2.

"So you're always working at something. I think growing up for so long, being an athlete, that's kind of what drives me. It's that pursuit of perfection," she said.

That pursuit is not quite over for Iffland. She was superb in the final two rounds and wound up as the winner of the El Nido leg, but she understands that there is more work to be done if she hopes to extend her streak to nine consecutive world cliff diving titles.

"Winning never gets old. I think we all know it," she said. "But there is more to winning. I think a small win is doing an amazing dive or doing something new, or overcoming a challenge that is thrown your way. But I think, the pursuit of perfection never gets old."

This year's competition is shorter than usual, with only four stops. The divers will take a two-month break before heading to Polignano A Mare in Italy on June 28 to 29 for the second leg of the Red Bull World Cliff Diving Series.

"There's only four events this season, so this has definitely given me a little boost of confidence," Iffland said of her El Nido win. "But yeah, I think I'm already excited to go away from here and to take that confidence with me and to put it into my training and try to come back harder."

"I think the main goal is just consistency. That's what I have relied on for the previous years, and I think that's gonna help. But let's see, let's see. It's too early to say. It's only one out of four, so we'll see how it goes," she added.

-- LOVE FOR THE GAME --Rhiannan Iffland of Australia dives from 21.5 meters off the cliff at Lagen Island during the first competition day of the first stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in El Nido, Philippines on April 11, 2025. Romina Amato, Red Bull Content PoolThe pursuit of perfection is a big part of what drives Iffland to continue climbing rocky terrain and leap off rough, narrow ledges. But there are other factors. On Saturday, after their dive at the Small Lagoon, the Red Bull competitors had kayaked their way back to the beach, with friendly races occurring along the way. 

"Look at this location, look at this energy — that's ultimately what keeps me coming back," Iffland said. "I love this sport."

"What we did this morning, I'm not gonna find a rush like that anywhere else," she added.

She reiterated this sentiment after winning the El Nido title on Day 3. A good-sized crowd had watched Iffland's triumph, with the Big Lagoon open to the public. The audience sat on their kayaks or floated in the water, letting out impressed whoops with every acrobatic twist performed by the divers.

"Standing up on the platform, and I looked down at the Big Lagoon and I just went, 'Oh my god, wow.' That just filled me up with energy. I completely loved it here," said Iffland.

The energy, the competition, and yes, her never ending pursuit of the perfect dive -- all these fuel Iffland to keep going even as she acknowledges that Father Time may be catching up with her.

"I'm not done yet. I reckon I got another five years in me, hopefully. At the moment, that's the goal," she said. "I'm not getting any younger, but yeah, I'm really looking forward to what's coming in the next years."

"I think another thing is seeing the females come into this sport so strong. It's such a cool thing to be a part of, and to know that I've been one of the pioneers from the beginning has also been an amazing thing," she added.

"So I don't wanna step out and not see where it goes. I wanna continue and try to keep up with the young guns."

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