High Diving World Cup Bahrain 2024: Preview and schedule

Manama, Bahrain has invited the world’s best high divers to perform their exhilarating acrobatics high above the tranquil waters of the Gulf of Bahrain during the first stop of World Aquatics High Diving World Cup 2024 from 21-22 September.

The city’s modern skyline provides the dramatic backdrop to an enthralling competition, as more than 50 male and female divers plunge from platforms at least twice the height of the Olympic 10m platform in pursuit of victory in this daredevil discipline.

World champions Rhiannan Iffland of Australia and Aidan Heslop of Great Britain are looking to stamp their authority on the discipline once more, with many challengers looking to change the narrative ahead of the World Aquatics Championships Singapore 2025.

Read on to find out more about the High Diving World Cup Bahrain 2024, including key athletes to follow and the full competition schedule.

Big names ready to make a big splash in Manama, Bahrain

While making a splash might seem antithetical to technically proficient diving, competitors at the High Diving World Cup Bahrain 2024 will want to leave a lasting impression on the judges, with only two stops counting towards the final World Cup ranking.

World champion Rhiannan Iffland looks to continue a streak of victories in the women’s competition, after completing a last round comeback to win the women’s 20m event at the World Aquatics Championships Doha 2024.

The 33-year-old from Newcastle, Australia has reigned supreme over women’s high diving, with few exceptions, since winning her first world championship title in 2017.

The former diving entertainer on cruise ships looks to start the season on a positive note, as she prepares to compete for a fifth consecutive world championship title at the World Aquatics Championships Singapore 2025.

Canada’s Molly Carlson, one of the aforementioned exceptions to Iffland’s reign, will look to out-score the high-diving queen during the first stop of the High Diving World Cup 2024.

An alumnus of the Youth Olympic Games Nanjing 2014, Carlson is a relatively recent convert to high diving, entering her first international competition in 2021. Despite having less competition experience than Iffland, Carlson claimed victory at the World Aquatics High Diving World Cup 2023, beating Iffland by less than 10 points.

While she’s yet to beat the Aussie at the world championships, Carlson will look to repeat her World Cup success in Bahrain.

The men’s 27m event will be headlined by Great Britain's Aidan Heslop, who won his first world championship title at the World Aquatics Championships Doha 2024.

The 22-year-old began his career as a platform diver before turning his attention to high diving. He won his debut international competition in 2021, but has since struggled to find that form over the past two seasons. His victory at the world championships will likely bolster his confidence heading into the High Diving World Cup Bahrain 2024.

Heslop will face a stiff challenge from Catalin Preda, who finished runner-up behind Heslop at the world championships earlier this year.

The 33-year-old Romanian has experienced a high-diving renaissance over the past two seasons, featuring on the podium at both the World Aquatics Championships Fukuoka 2023 and World Aquatics Championships Doha 2024.

He’ll be joined in Bahrain’s capital city by compatriot Constantin Popovici – gold medalist in the men’s 27m event at World Aquatics Championships Fukuoka 2023 – with the pair looking to impress and put the Romanian flag atop the World Cup rankings.

Schedule for the High Diving World Cup Bahrain 2024

All times local to Manama, Bahrain, which observes Arabia Standard Time (GMT +3)

Saturday 21 September

• 09:00 Women's 20m - Round 1 and 2
• 11:30 Men's 27m - Round 1 and 2

Sunday 22 September

• 09:00 Women's 20m - Round 3
• 09:35 Women's 20m - Round 4
• 11:30 Men's 27m - Round 3
• 12:15 Men's 27m - Round 4