PLYMOUTH’S Aidan Heslop completed a remarkable comeback season by securing his second Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series title on Sunday.

Heslop finished fourth in Polignano a Mare, which was enough to once again lift the King Kahekili Trophy.

On the day, it was Ukraine’s Oleksiy Prygorov who won at the final stop, but ultimately it was the Brit who stood atop the overall podium as he was crowned champion in Italy.

Heslop, who first laid his hands on cliff diving’s biggest prize two years ago before taking a season off to undergo back surgery, rounded out a dream return to the 27m platform this year by doing exactly what he needed to do at the finale.

With title rivals Constantin Popovici and James Lichtenstein applying pressure right to the season’s final dives in Italy, the 24-year-old held his nerve in front of 10,000 fans to take fourth spot as he became only the second man in the sport’s history to win more than one King Kahekili Trophy.

“It means so much to me. After all that I’ve been through, I think it’s quite fitting,” said Heslop, who also becomes only the second male wildcard to win the title.

“I know the percentages were good, but just watching the other guys dive after not a great dive myself was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. Polignano was already special to me, but now it’s extra special.”

In the end, despite not being at his brilliant best in the place where he made his debut in 2018, it was a win at the season opener in Bali – combined with three successive runner-up spots – that proved decisive in what was another thrilling tight fight.

Just like in 2024, American Lichtenstein and Romanian Popovici played their part in the battle, but both fell just short once again as a respective second and third place in Italy mirrored their final position in the overall standings.