Aquatic history will meet industrial history this Saturday and Sunday when the five-time high diving world champion Rhiannan Iffland and three different men’s world champions take off from platforms built into a cliff at the spectacular old mine in Porto Flavia, on the Italian island of Sardinia.

The 32 divers will reach the 27m and 20m platforms at the UNESCO-protected site either by going through an old mine tunnel or by climbing a ladder from the water.  Meanwhile, fans will congregate in the sea on paddleboards, kayaks, boats, or inflatables, as there is no designated onshore viewing area.

Porto Flavia was a zinc and lead mine from 1924 to the 1990s, and its high perch enabled miners to load the ore directly onto cargo ships waiting in the sea below.

The only thing emerging from the mine this August 30 and 31, however, will be medalists past, present, and future.

Elite Men to Watch

It will be fascinating to see what James Lichtenstein of the US, 28, will do for an encore after winning gold at the 2025 world championships this summer. In Singapore, the former actuarial science student clinched the victory with his signature back quint (with 5.3 DD) which scored 9.0s. He was the first to land it in competition (in 2022), but it’s not his hardest dive. The Chicago native also has an armstand back 4½ (with a 5.6 DD) which he likes to get out of the way in an earlier round.

Carlos Gimeno, 25, the 2025 world championship silver medalist, has the same two optional dives as Lichtenstein but the Spaniard is best known for his armstands – including, now, unfortunately, the one that cost him his lead and the gold medal in Singapore. “Second in the world is not bad,” he said after claiming silver, “but I’m training to be the best in the world. Next is the World Cup in Italy. I’m going to have to win that one.”

Also in the mix should be the 2023 world champion and 2025 world championship bronze medalist Constantin Popovici of Romania, 36, as well as the five-time world medalist Gary Hunt of France who, at 41, is as polished as ever.

The 2024 world champion Aidan Heslop of Great Britain, however, is still recovering from back surgery and is not expected to return until next season.

Elite Women to Watch

As mentioned, five-time world champion Rhiannan Iffland of Australia, 34, is the heavy favorite to win. Her usual nemesis, Molly Carlson, 26, of Canada (a two-time world championship silver medalist), returns to Italy for the first time since what she called a “near-death” experience on June 27 while training at the Red Bull stop in Polignano a Mare, Italy. Carlson skidded off the platform, tumbled like a rag doll, yet somehow landed feet-first in the water.  After only four weeks to heal (both mentally and physically), Carlson placed an uncharacteristic ninth in Singapore but remains on the rebound.

Meanwhile, Carlson’s teammate Simone Leathead, 22, took second behind Iffland at the 2025 world championship Singapore, to keep the silver in Canada for the third year in a row.  

The new star, Maya Kelly of the US, took an unexpected bronze at the world championships. At 18, the ex-gymnast from Minnesota was the youngest woman in the field.

“It’s my first year I’m able to go off the 20-meter platform,” Kelly said after the medal ceremony in her world championship debut. “I’m excited for the future!”

Parting Shot