Canada’s Macaulay climbs World Series diving podium for first time this season

COPENHAGEN – Canada’s Jessica Macaulay climbed the medal podium for the first time this season, winning bronze at the third stop of the 2022 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series on Sunday.

The 29-year-old high diver from Montreal scored 328.85 points. Australians Rhiannan Iffland (374.45) and Xantheia Pennisi (337.70) took gold and silver respectively.

Canadian Molly Carlson narrowly missed the podium, finishing in fourth place with 324.10 points.

“I’m really happy with my placement overall, it’s been a couple competitions since I podiumed so I’m really happy about my performance,” Macaulay said. “I think I just needed to find my footing a little bit at the beginning of the season. I felt really consistent up there this week.”

Canadian coach Stéphane Lapointe said the strong winds made this week’s event particularly challenging.

“The weather conditions were not easy today, with strong winds at around 50 kilometres per,” Lapointe said. “The girls did really well despite it all. Jessica was very consistent on her four dives and we’re really happy with the medal she got.”

Carlson, a 22-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ont., secured fourth with her fourth and final dive.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2022.