Diving – ABU DHABI, UAE – A costly miss on her second dive eventually resulted in a ninth place finish in the women’s 20-m event for defending champion Lysanne Richard of Montreal on Saturday at the FINA World Cup in high diving.

Richard, FINA’s high diver of the year in 2016, received mixed reviews from the judges for her opening compulsory dive to stand ninth. On the second dive, a front triple somersault with one and half twists, she received only 4.5’s, 5.0’s and 5.5’s and dropped to 11^th.

She was more consistent on her final two dives and climbed back to ninth.

‘’It wasn’t my best competition,’’ said Richard. ‘’However it doesn’t affect my confidence for the upcoming Red Bull Cliff Diving circuit and the world championships. I’m anxious to come back in full force and I know what I need to work on.’’

Rita Jemenez Trejo of Mexico won the gold medal edging Rhiannan Iffland of Australia. Yana Nestsiarava of Belarus took the bronze.

It was the first time there were four dives, (two compulsories and two optionals) for the women at a high diving event”

‘“I think it’s a great improvement for all female high divers,’’ said Richard, 35. ‘’Allowing us to perform an extra dive will help us bring our performances to the next level.’’

The 2017 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, starts June 24 in Inis Mor, Ireland with stops in Sao Miguel, Azores (July 9), Polignano a Mare, Italy (July 23), Texas, USA (September 3), Mostar, Bosnia (September 16) and Lago Ranco, Chile (October 21).

In 2016, Richard triumphed in Polignagno a Mare and Mostar and placed 2nd in the overall rankings. Like FINA, Red Bull has adopted the four dives rule for female divers, in addition to raising their dive height from 20-metres to 21-metres.

FINA announced this week it has formally requested to the IOC to include high diving in the Olympic program for the 2020 Tokyo Games.

‘’I am crossing my fingers for that,’’ said Richard.

Full results: http://www.fina.org/event/4th-fina-high-diving-world-cup/results