RB Cliff Diving World Series 2016 | 5th stop at Polignano a Mare, ITA

Silchenko and Richard stop cliff diving favourites’ winning streaks

Russian champion soars to victory in the men’s as Canadian Richard wins for first time in her Red Bull
Cliff Diving World Series career in Polignano a Mare, Italy, on 28 August 2016

The winning streaks of Britain’s Gary Hunt and wildcard Rhiannan Iffland from Australia came to a
dramatic end in Polignano a Mare on Sunday afternoon, following a climactic final, which ended with
Artem Silchenko and Canada’s Lysanne Richard celebrating on top of the podium in front of an
enthusiastic 70,000 spectators. It was Silchenko's first win since 2014, courtesy of an amazing final
round dive, while mother of three Richard grabbed her first ever victory with three superb dives from
21.5m. Steven LoBue and Jonathan Paredes finished second and third in the men's 27m event, with
Iffland and Rachelle Simpson completing the women's podium. Gary Hunt, who was aiming for his fourth
consecutive win, failed to make the final round for only the third time in his career.




While the Brit only finished on a 10th place, the 2013 World Series champion Artem Silchenko came
back strong after a month of no diving and 23 months after his last victory. A little shorter was Steven
LoBue’s podium dry spell as the American made it onto the podium for the first time since his win in
Bilbao in 2015. Going into the final round as the leader was Mexican Jonathan Paredes, who reduces
the gap to the overall leader Gary Hunt with the fourth podium finish in five competitions to sit in a strong
second place going into the second half of the season.

With today’s victory in the European home of cliff diving, 32-year-old Silchenko cut down his overall lag
to half and is now in fifth place, tied with the absent Czech Michal Navratil, who’s recovering from a knee
surgery and will come back at the next stop in Wales.

In the women’s it was Canadian Lysanne Richard who dived to her first ever World Series victory
following a strong first day of competition in her favourite cliff diving location. After pocketing the 2016
FINA world cup earlier this year, the 34-year-old is the 4th female to dominate an event and the one
athlete to stop the ‘rocking rookie’ from Australia. Wildcard Rhiannan Iffland has taken the World Series
by surprise and won the first two stops she’s ever competed in. Today she finished second ahead of
two-time overall champion Rachelle Simpson. The American celebrated her first podium since last
September when she was crowned champion in this location.

After three of seven stops for the women, the overalls are still led by Iffland, followed by today’s winner
Richard and another Australian on third, rookie Helena Merten.

When the World Series travels to Wales in two weeks’ time, it will be a debut for the women in
Pembrokeshire’s Blue Lagoon, where Gary Hunt will be ready to strike back on home soil on September
11.

Quotes from the Winners
Artem Silchenko, RUS
I’m really happy because I haven’t been on the podium for long time. I don’t even talk about the victory.
Yes, I dived well today and my last handstand started to work again and with this dive I made the first
place today.

Lysanne Richard, CAN
It’s great to dive here, actually it’s my favorite place to dive. It’s really great, the crowd is amazing; the
people are super nice, we really feel all the community together with us. It’s really impressive and the
visuals and the water are perfect, really great. Good conditions to do good dives!





Results MEN
1. Artem Silchenko, RUS - 487.35pts.
2. Steven LoBue, USA - 480.90
3. Jonathan Paredes, MEX - 474.95
4. Alessandro De Rose (W), ITA - 472.35
5. Orlando Duque, COL - 466.40
6. Andy Jones, USA - 448.70
7. Sergio Guzman, MEX - 432.40
8. David Colturi, USA - 398.90
9. Alain Kohl (W), LUX - 298.15
10. Gary Hunt, GBR - 297.00
11. Kris Kolanus (W), POL - 294.30
12. Blake Aldridge, GBR - 288.75
13. Igor Semashko (W), RUS - 232.00
14. Jorge Ferzuli (W), MEX - 179.80

Results WOMEN
1. Lysanne Richard, CAN – 244.20pts.
2. Rhiannan Iffland (W), AUS - 239.80
3. Rachelle Simpson, USA - 215.50
4. Adriana Jimenez, MEX - 214.80
5. Ginger Huber, USA - 214.40
6. Helena Merten, AUS - 205.35
7. Cesilie Carlton, USA - 194.40
8. Iris Schmidbauer (W), GER - 116.70

Standings MEN (after 5 of 9 stops)
1. Gary Hunt, GBR – 740pts.
2. Jonathan Paredes, MEX - 660
3. Andy Jones, USA - 460
4. Orlando Duque, COL - 450
5. Michal Navratil, CZE - 360
5. Artem Silchenko, RUS - 360
7. Steven LoBue, USA - 350
8. David Colturi, USA - 330
8. Kris Kolanus (W), POL - 330
10. Blake Aldridge, GBR - 258
11. Alessandro De Rose (W), ITA - 208
12. Sergio Guzman, MEX - 178
13. Alain Kohl (W), LUX - 90
14. Kyle Mitrione (W), USA - 59
15. Jucelino Junior (W), BRA - 30
16. Viktar Maslouski (W), BLR - 20
17. Miguel Garcia (W), COL - 17
18. Todor Spasov (W), BUL - 9
18. Cyrille Oumedjkane (W), FRA - 9
18. Igor Semashko (W), RUS - 9
21. Jorge Ferzuli (W) MEX - 8

Standings WOMEN (after 3 of 7 stops)
1. Rhiannan Iffland (W), AUS - 560pts.
2. Lysanne Richard, CAN - 450
3. Helena Merten, AUS - 310
4. Cesilie Carlton, USA - 290
5. Ginger Huber, USA – 280
6. Adriana Jimenez, MEX - 270
7. Rachelle Simpson, USA - 260
8. Yana Nestsiarava (W), BLR - 90
9. Tara Hyer-Tira (W), USA – 50
9. Iris Schmidbauer (W), GER - 50
11. Jaki Valente (W), BRA - 40