High diving made a spectacular splash at Palawan Green on Thursday, as the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025 kicked off the aerial showdown with a brand-new format and sky-high performances.

With six dives now replacing the traditional four-dive structure, athletes had to start strong—and few did better than Spain’s Carlos Gimeno and Australia’s Rhiannan Iffland.

The former gymnast from Spain leads the men’s standings after two rounds with a score of 218.40, edging out reigning world champion Constantin Popovici of Romania (216.50) and Team USA’s James Lichtenstein (212.80).

“It’s feeling good here,” said Gimeno, who earned 9s and 9.5s from the judges. “But I don’t want to get too excited. There’s still tomorrow—and if I make the final, two more dives on Sunday. For now, everything feels perfect. I’ve trained hard for this moment, and Singapore’s been amazing.”

In the women’s division, all eyes are once again on four-time defending champion Rhiannan Iffland (AUS), who soared to the top with 169.50 points after Dives 1 and 2. Canada’s Molly Carlson, a two-time silver medallist, sits close behind with 165.80, while Colombia’s Maria Paula Quintero rounds out the top three at 146.10.

The new six-dive format raises the stakes, rewarding consistency and stamina over the three-day contest. The next set of dives—Rounds 3 and 4—will take place on Friday, with the women starting at 11AM and the men diving in from 2PM.

Top Rankings After Dives 1 & 2
Women’s High Diving:
🥇 Rhiannan Iffland (AUS) – 169.50
🥈 Molly Carlson (CAN) – 165.80
🥉 Maria Paula Quintero (COL) – 146.10

Men’s High Diving:
🥇 Carlos Gimeno (ESP) – 218.40
🥈 Constantin Popovici (ROU) – 216.50
🥉 James Lichtenstein (USA) – 212.80