'It never gets any less scary': World cliff diving champion reveals what she is thinking before plunging 30 metres HEADFIRST into the sea

  • Australian Rhiannan Iffland is Red Bull World Cliff Diving champion
  • It is the 25 year old's first year competing in the daring sport
  • She heard about cliff diving three years ago while working on a cruise ship
  • Ms Iffland said she was 'never not frightened' before a dive 

A 25-year-old Australian has won the world cliff diving championship in her debut season.

Rhiannan Iffland, from Port Macquarie, NSW, was crowned the 2016 Red Bull World Cliff Diving champion following a competition in Dubai.

Remarkably, it is Ms Iffland's first year competing in the sport, which she first heard about just three years ago while working on a cruise ship.

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Champion: Rhiannan Iffland (left) has been crowned the Red Bull World Cliff Diving champion. She is pictured with fellow champion Gary Hunt (right) after the ninth and final event of the series in Dubai

Champion: Rhiannan Iffland (left) has been crowned the Red Bull World Cliff Diving champion. She is pictured with fellow champion Gary Hunt (right) after the ninth and final event of the series in Dubai

Daring: Ms Iffland said she was 'never not frightened' as she stood on the platform before a dive

Daring: Ms Iffland said she was 'never not frightened' as she stood on the platform before a dive

Not one for bravado, Ms Iffland said she was almost constantly fearful as she stood at the top of the diving platform and contemplated her leap into the water below.

'I'm never not frightened to be honest,' she told Mamamia.

'It does get easier to control those nerves, and definitely with each competition I learn to deal with it a little bit better.

'But it never gets any less scary - I always have those thoughts in the back of my head.'

Amazing: Ms Iffland remarkably won the championship during her first year as a competitor. She is pictured during a dive in Shirahama, Japan

Amazing: Ms Iffland remarkably won the championship during her first year as a competitor. She is pictured during a dive in Shirahama, Japan

Breathtaking: Ms Iffland dives from a cliff face in the Azores archipelago, Portugal

Breathtaking: Ms Iffland dives from a cliff face in the Azores archipelago, Portugal

Ms Iffland was an avid trampolinist and diver during her high school years, but it was not until three years ago while working on a cruise ship that she heard about cliff diving.

'They said that with my trampoline skills and diving skills, this could be something I would really enjoy,' she said.

She said she fell in love with the sport straight away, although it took some convincing before her parents thought it was a good idea.

Thrilling: Ms Iffland performs a dive during an event at Possum Kingdom Lake, Texas

Thrilling: Ms Iffland performs a dive during an event at Possum Kingdom Lake, Texas

Incredible: The 25-year-old celebrates after being crowned the competition's winner

Incredible: The 25-year-old celebrates after being crowned the competition's winner

The Red Bull competition is made up of nine events spread across exotic locations in countries such as Portugal, Italy and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Contestants complete dives of up to 30 metres during events and are scored on how difficult the dives are and how gracefully they enter the water.

Ms Iffland was crowned the women's winner after the final event in this year's competition, held at the Dubai Marina in the United Arab Emirates. 

Celebration: Ms Iffland (centre in yellow and green) celebrates after winning a tour event in Portugal

Celebration: Ms Iffland (centre in yellow and green) celebrates after winning a tour event in Portugal