Helena Merten (born 17 March 1995[1]) is an Australian high diver and acrobatic performer. She placed second at the 2017 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series and won a silver medal in women's 20m at the FINA High Diving World Cup 2016.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 17, 1995 |
| Sport | |
| Country | Australia |
| Sport | High diving |
Early life and education edit
Merten is originally from the Gold Coast, Australia. From the age of 5, Merten trained in various acrobatic sports including gymnastics, tumbling, diving, and circus.[2] She attended A.B. Paterson College.[3]
Career edit
At age 17, Merten moved abroad to join the cast of The House of Dancing Water, a water-based acrobatic show in Macau.[2] She performed with the show for two years and began cliff diving in 2015.[4]
When Merten joined the 2016 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series as a season regular, she became the youngest diver to compete in the series' permanent line up at age 21.[2] After the first five dives of the seven-dive season, she was ranked fourth overall.[5] After placing second in the final stop of the season, Merten placed fourth in the series.[6] She placed second in women's 20m at the FINA High Diving World Cup 2016, with 229.60 points, behind Lysanne Richard's 253.80 points.[7][8]
Merten placed second overall in the 2017 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, behind fellow Australian Rhiannan Iffland, and had four podium finishes that season.[9] She placed seventh in women's high diving at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships[10] and eight at the 2017 FINA High Diving World Cup.[11] Since 2017, Merten has been playing the Running Woman in the touring production of Cirque du Soleil's Luzia.[12] The role involves hoop diving and a Chinese pole.[13]
References edit
- ^ "Helena MERTEN Profile". World Aquatics. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ a b c McMahon, Alle (2016-10-13). "Australian diver Helena Merten making a splash at Red Bull world series". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ "Old Collegian Achievement - Helena Merten". A.B. Paterson College. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ Edmistone, Leanne (2017-11-24). "Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series: Australia's Helena Merten back on the Gold Coast". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ Keen, Ryan (2016-09-26). "Gold Coast cliff diver Helena Merten fourth in Red Bull World Series ahead of Dubai finale". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ "See the 2016 Red Bull Cliff Diving champs crowned". Red Bull. 2016-10-29. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ "HDWCup 2016: Lysanne Richard (CAN) gets surprising gold". World Aquatics. 2016-02-28. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ Keith, Braden (2016-03-03). "Hunt, Richard Win 3rd FINA High Diving World Cup (DIVING VIDEO)". SwimSwam. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ Brien, Taylor (2017-10-23). "Rhiannon Iffland, Jonathan Paredes Claim Red Bull Cliff Diving Series Titles". Swimming World News. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ "Final results". Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ "IFFLAND TAKES SILVER AT HIGH DIVING WORLD CUP". Diving Australia. 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ Nikas-Boulos, Catherine (2023-12-06). "Cirque du Soleil brings world-renowned LUZIA show to Australia". News.com.au. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ Garcia, Jocelyn (2023-10-25). "Cirque du Soleil taps into the sounds and soul of Mexico". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 2024-03-11.