The Men's Water Polo podium was decided on day 14 of the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025, with Spain securing gold after defeating Hungary in a decisive and dramatic final.
Spain clinched double gold, also claiming top spot in the Women's Duo Free today, with Iris Tio Casas and Lilou Lluis Valette delivering a flawless routine that earned them top honours.
The High Diving competition was a visual spectacle as it got underway in Singapore, with athletes making their first dives in the preliminary rounds.
High Diving
Carlos GIMENO (ESP) – Men’s High Diving preliminaries
“I’ve been working very hard for this competition in Singapore. I have the best preparation for a competition. Everything, all the steps – my nutrition has been right, my training has been right, my mental training has been correct. Hopefully it pays off. As for how everything is going, for me, so far it’s been perfect. The platform’s amazing, the pool as well. I love it here. I love the culture here in Singapore as well, people are very polite and good. I would love to come back to this country.”
Gary HUNT (FRA) - Men’s High Diving preliminaries
On his first two dives:
“(It feels) very good. It’s a new pool, new environment and a new format. We have three days of competition now, so you have to pace yourself but I’m very happy with my performance.”
On advice to young high divers:
“I would say this sport is an adventure. If you love diving and you want to get outside and travel the world and live adventurously, try high diving. Because it really opens the doorway to seeing the beautiful places in this world, like Singapore, and I have to thank high diving for this.”
Jonathan PAREDES (MEX) - Men’s High Diving preliminaries
On his chances at Singapore 2025:
“It’s been a privilege for me to be here for so long. So many new faces, young faces especially, and every time it gets harder and harder. But I’m so grateful to be here, I’m 36 years old so that’s already cool.”
CHOI Byunghwa (KOR) - Men’s High Diving preliminaries
On how new high diving locations can grow the sport:
“This is a beautiful place. I really like it – there’s nice people, nice weather, a beautiful landscape. I love this city. In Asia, we have so many excellent divers. In China, Malaysia, Japan and Korea, we have many 10m platform divers. But in high diving, only me. In the last few years, there’s only one Asian. I am really putting some big effort in Korea for the officials to promote high diving and some day I want to organise a high diving World Cup or high diving championships in South Korea, or maybe a Red Bull event so that we can make the sport bigger. Asia has so many good, talented athletes and many kinds of spectators and people who want to see high diving events. Maybe in the future, not too far away, we can make the sport bigger.”
Rhiannan IFFLAND (AUS) - Women’s High Diving preliminaries
On her dives today:
“The venue is amazing, the environment out there feels electric and I seem to carry that energy over into my dives and my competition. The first two rounds for me went well, exactly how I wanted to start – shake off the nerves. It’s good to get off to a solid start so you can keep building on that confidence. That’s what I’m looking to do here so I’m really happy. It was an enjoyable day in the office so I’m ready to go for the next.”
Molly CARLSON (CAN) - Women’s High Diving preliminaries
On her performance today:
“I’m so happy with today’s performance. I haven’t competed since April, I was out for an injury and for me to just get back up there and to dive in the heat, I was like, ‘Don’t get dizzy up there, we’re already so high.’ But honestly, it was two really solid dives and I’m excited to dive tomorrow and the next day, hopefully.”
Elisa COSETTI (ITA) - Women’s High Diving preliminaries
On the impact of high diving held in new locations:
“It’s super cool, changing spots and places because we are here to compete, but we also have the (opportunity) to go around and meet people and know more about the culture of different places. And this is super cool.”
Water Polo
Edoardo DI SOMMA (ITA) – re. ITA v USA (9-8)
On how close the game was:
“It was a good game. These matches are not easy, never, so I’m proud of my team because we fought until the end. It’s the World Championships, so it’s very important for us to close this tournament with a win.”
David MARTIN, ESP head coach – Gold in Men’s Water Polo
On winning at the World Championships:
“I don’t have words now, I think it’s a dream. It’s the best feeling for the team, for (Filipe) Perrone. We played very well today, we played faster in the last quarter, which was amazing. I want to give congratulations to Hungary, they had an amazing tournament and it was a great final for the fans. I’m very happy.”
Panagiotis TZORTZATOS (GRE), goalkeeper and Player of the Bronze medal match
On their women’s team winning the title:
“Congratulations to our women’s team. They were incredible. We saw the game and we were shouting at the hotel. We hope to get the same (result)... maybe next year.”
Artistic Swimming
Iris TIO CASAS (ESP) – Gold in the Women’s Duet Free
On the result:
“I have no words. It’s super special. I had a super good feeling before swimming the duet tonight. I’m super happy because we worked a lot this season and we are getting the results.”
On coach Andrea FUENTES (ESP):
“She brought a lot of positivity and has a lot of confidence in us. And also in creating super good choreography that we feel comfortable swimming and which are very artistic. We find a very good balance in artistry and difficulty. She’s the best coach ever.”
Lucrezia RUGGIERO (ITA) – Silver in the Women’s Duet Free
On taking silver:
“We’re a new couple and we’re really happy about what we did today. It was an unexpected result and for now we’re very happy. We know we can (still) work a lot on this duet and we’re very happy for it.”