August 28, 2016
Canada’s Richard reigns on Red Bull Cliff Diving circuit
Diving – Canada’s Richard reigns on Red Bull Cliff Diving circuit
POLIGNANO A MARE, Italy – Lysanne Richard of Montreal earned her first career victory on the Red Bull Cliff Diving circuit on Sunday placing first in the 20-metre women’s event at the third of seven stops.
In a picturesque setting by the Adriatic Sea, thousands watched the competition from the opposite cliff and hundreds more from their motor boats.
Richard needed 87.60 points on her third and final dive to win the competition. She executed a front dive with 3.5 somersault with 1.5 twists in pike position landing cleanly into the water. The judges awarded her two 8.0’s, two 7.5’s and a 7.0 for 92.00 to finish with 224.20 point total for the gold.
‘’I’m super happy,’’ said the 5’3’’ Richard, who turns 35 on Tuesday. ‘’I don’t know what to say. Surprised? I wasn’t sure about that last dive but good.’’
Rhiannan Iffland of Australia was second at 239.80 and Rachelle Simpson of the U.S. third at 215.50. There were eight entries.
Iffland still leads the overall standings with 560 points followed by Richard at 450 and Helena Merten of Australia at 310.
On Saturday, Richard executed her first two dives of the competition, which included 95.00 points on her second dive, and was standing first heading into Sunday’s finale.
Richard qualified for the 2016 women’s World Series with an overall fifth in 2015. As a graduate from the National Circus School of Montreal, Richard juggles her job as a character and acrobat at Cirque du Soleil, being a successful cliff diver and a mother of three.
Video of final dive: http://www.redbullcliffdiving.com/en_US/video/richard-reigns-beautiful-final-round-dive