Aidan Heslop: Ex-high diving world champion returns after back surgery

As Heslop began his preparations for 2025, the pain remained.

He met with multiple physios and had medical treatment, but nothing could get him ready for the season opener in the Philippines in March, as he decided to pull out.

Two months later he met a doctor who recommended Heslop undergo back surgery, ruling him out for the season.

Heslop underwent surgery in Munich on 20 May, 2025, getting back on the 27m board on 27 January, 2026, 444 days days his World Series triumph in Sydney.

Exactly one year to the day since his surgery, he is back in action at the Kroya Waterfall & Kelingking Beach in Bali, Indonesia for the 2026 opener from 20-23 May.

In Heslop’s absence last year, Gary Hunt won his 11th title at the age of 41.

While Heslop would love to win his title back, the 24-year-old is realistic about his ambitions.

“As much as I’d like to stand here and say that I want to win the whole series and smash it out the park, I don’t think that’s my main goal for this year.

“Ideally I’d have 15 years in this sport still.

“This year is about learning how to be healthy as a cliff diver and what I need to do to have my body in a position where I can do this sport without hurting myself.

“I hope I can stay healthy, but there’s a little part of me that wants to kick everyone’s asses as well!”

“I think I’ve done cliff diving all these years, purely because I love it, there’s nothing else in this world that makes me feel the same as I do when I cliff dive.”