Fairytale victory at Canada’s first-ever Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Montreal
Posted August 25, 2024 3:06 pm.
Last Updated August 25, 2024 11:25 pm.
It was an adrenaline-fuelled weekend in Montreal’s Old Port, as the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series happened for the very first time in Canada.
Divers launched themselves straight into the St. Lawrence River and on Sunday, the third and final day of this stop, Canadian Molly Carlson dove straight to victory.
“This is so special,” said Carlson. “I cannot believe it’s real still.”
RELATED: Reaching new heights: Canada hosts Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series for first time in Montreal
“Such a moment to do four out of four great dives in front of my home crowd,” explained the 25-year-old athlete from Thunder Bay, Ont. “And to land on top of that podium is so special.”
“It means the world to me.”
“I literally cried before my dive, after my dive,” she added.
Carlson executed the best dive of the weekend — plunging from a platform 21 metres high.
She said she’s happy to have done it in Montreal, where she trains and now calls home.
“Having my family here is crazy,” she explained. “I think I have 98 family and friends here!”
“It’s not because she’s Canadian that I went for the perfect score,” said Olivier Morneau-Ricard, head judge of the event. “I think the dive was nearly perfect.”
“For us, giving it 10 doesn’t mean perfection,” he added. “It means it’s excellent.”
“And I thought the dive was beyond excellent, so I give it a 10.”
As for the men, their final jumps from 27 meters, saw a 45-minute delay.
“Not because of the rain,” said Morneau-Ricard. “We postponed the event only because of lightning.”
“The athletes are used to dive in harsh condition.”
But skies cleared and a fairytale ending was witnessed by the thousands that filled the Old Port.
Carlson’s boyfriend — Great Britain’s Aidan Heslop – also claimed glory!
The couple won in Montreal but who will be named the world champions?
Montreal was the sixth of eight stops in this series – the journey began in Greece at the end of May – and the athletes must perform at every event where their points are then accumulated.
Their last plunge set to take place in Australia in Nov.
“I would tell my younger self right now to be kind to yourself,” said Carlson. “Life’s too short to be hard on yourself.”
“You deserve everything you’ve earned,” she added. “Oh my God, I’m gonna cry.”
#WATCH: It was an adrenaline-fuelled weekend in Montreal’s Old Port, as the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series happened for the very first time in Canada.
— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) August 25, 2024
The finals in full swing!
READ: https://t.co/dJXsCXPe9p pic.twitter.com/iRj62HAot7
Now ranked second in the series, Carlson is ready to make a splash in Turkey along with the other competitors.
Earning more championship points through their breathtaking twists and turns.
“I literally feel so proud of myself already,” said Carlson. “That even if Turkey and Australia go downhill, I am so happy with the season so far.”
“I know it can only go up because I learned so much from every stop,” she added. “And Montreal definitely boosted my confidence.”
