Canadians Molly Carlson and Jessica Macaulay are second and third following the first two rounds of competition at the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series stop in Saint-Raphaël, France.
The event is a first for both Carlson and Macaulay. Friday was Carlson’s first-ever cliff diving event while Macaulay, who hails from Great Yarmouth in the United Kingdom and holds dual citizenship, is representing Canada for the first time in her career.
Carlson (Thunder Bay, ON) is second after her first two dives with a cumulative score of 159.8.
“I have to say I had so much fun today,” said Carlson. “I think being surrounded by all my idols that I really just looked up to for so many years in the cliff diving world and having them cheer me on and support me through this first event was so thrilling.
“We’ve been working so hard in Montreal on our 20-metre platform at the Olympic Stadium and we were able to pull it out when we needed it most in the competition today.”
The 22-year-old is competing at this Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series event as a wildcard—a podium finish would ensure she is invited to future events on the tour.
“I just wanted to put down my dives as I’ve been practicing them at home and I think it finally showed up today,” Carlson said. “We train so often on the 20-metre platform and to be able to put down some really good ones when it mattered meant the world to me.
“To be alongside Jess up in the Top 3—we train for this. It was really exciting to make it all count. I really hope it continues tomorrow, this momentum we have from Day 1.”
Following the first two rounds of competition, Macaulay is third with a combined score of 142.8.
“I really focused on a couple of keywords that reminded me about the technical corrections that I need to make,” Macaulay said. “For the most part, I really focused on my mindset and my energy, keeping myself really calm, connected to my body and keeping my thoughts in check and that allowed me to stay focused for my dives and compete them how I wanted.
“I’m really excited for tomorrow because I am competing my two optional dives: my reverse triple and my back triple pike—these are my two favourite dives. I feel like I’m really consistent on these dives, especially the back triple pike.”
The final two rounds of the event are scheduled for Saturday.
Full results: https://www.redbull.com/int-en/event-series/redbull-cliffdiving/results
About Diving Plongeon Canada
Diving Plongeon Canada (DPC) was established in 1967 as a not-for-profit organization to promote the growth and awareness of the sport in this country. As a member of FINA, the world’s governing body of aquatic sports, DPC contributes to the development of globally accepted standards of excellence in diving and supports the rules and regulations of international competition. Representing nine provincial diving associations, 67 local diving clubs and close to 4,000 high-performance athletes, DPC shares a national commitment to advance the art and sport of diving and to position Canada as the number one diving nation in the world. For information, visit www.diving.ca.
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For more information:
Jeff Feeney
Director, Events and Communications
Diving Plongeon Canada
C: 613-668-9668 | jeff@diving.ca