Iffland delivers fifth title under pressure after delay

Up on the 20m platform at Sentosa's Palawan Green and with just one dive to go, Australian Rhiannan Iffland gestured to the crowd to hype them up before taking the plunge at the World Aquatics Championships on July 26.

- Kimberly Kwek

Despite a 1½-hour delay to the final round due to inclement weather, the 33-year-old remained composed and cheerful before executing an inward triple with a half twist. Iffland's 102.60-point dive gave her a total of 359.25, sealing her fifth consecutive world title.

Canada's Simone Leathead won silver with a score of 314.50, improving significantly from her fourth place in 2023 and seventh position in 2024. The United States' Maya Kelly completed the podium in third place with a score of 310.

After completing her dive, Iffland slapped the water in celebration, before emerging from the pool to congratulate her rivals.

The bubbly, high-energy athlete spectators and fellow athletes saw on the final day of the women's competition was far from how she felt on the inside.

She said: "I had a moment this morning where one of my friends asked me how I was feeling, and I said, 'Oh, I'm faking it. This is the fourth day, and it's been a lot of diving. I was exhausted today. I do like to think that I do keep myself calm up there to some degree.