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Red Bull Cliff Diving champion Heslop to have back surgery

Aidan Heslop diving in Doha, QatarGetty Images

Aidan Heslop represented Wales at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Aidan Heslop, winner of the 2024 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, is to have back surgery after suffering a herniated disc in March.

The 23-year-old became the youngest diver to win the competition last year aged 22.

In a post on social media, Heslop said withdrawing from the first round of this year's competition in April was a "tough decision" but he hopes to be "back fighting" soon.

"I've had to make the tough decision to pull out of the first Red Bull Cliff Diving event of the season in the Philippines," Heslop wrote.

"I've been dealing with a herniated disc in my back for quite some time, and it's so bad now that I can't even touch my toes, let alone high dive.

"Nevertheless, I'm doing everything in my power to fix this injury and come back fighting for the rest of the season. So don't miss me too much."

The second stage of the 2025 series takes place in Italy on 28-29 June, before the divers move onto Bosnia and Herzegovina in September.

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