Maya Kelly will make her first appearance in the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series at the 2025 season finale in Boston this September.
At 19, she is among the youngest competitors in the women’s division and is ready to showcase her talent on the 21-meter platform.
Coming from a gymnastics background, Kelly follows in the footsteps of several divers who have successfully transitioned between the two disciplines, including nine-time champion Rhiannan Iffland. Her potential was highlighted in July 2025, when she took third place at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, a milestone that marks her as one to watch.
“I’ve been a gymnast all my life and finally burned out at Level 9. I heard a lot of former gymnasts were switching to diving, so I gave it a try,” says Kelly, who credits her coach and cliff diving partner, Ellie Smart, with inspiring her to pursue her dreams in the sport. “When I took my first dive from a 20-meter platform, I’ll never forget the moment Ellie came over crying and hugged me. That’s when I knew high diving was what I wanted to do for the rest of my diving career.”
Describing herself as “determined, sassy, and passionate,” Kelly admits she’s always been a “show-off.”
3 things you didn’t know about Maya Kelly
1- Maya was a gymnast for 12 years.
2- Her favorite class at school is adaptive physical education, where she gets to spend time with children with special needs.
3- She only started diving four years ago.
Career Highlights
2025
3rd Place – World Aquatics Championships Singapore
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Debut in Boston
Facts & Stats
Represents the
United States of America
Date of Birth: November 7, 2006
Height/Weight: 1.65 m/50 kg
City of Residence: Lake Elmo, MN
Profession: Student
Favorite Leisure Activities: Hanging out with friends and family
Secret Passion: Singing
Started cliff diving in 2021
Favorite Dive: 6151D
My (cliff diving) Heroine: Ellie Smart
Q&A
What scares a cliff diver? Definitely not heights…
My biggest fear in life is getting stuck in an elevator.
What is your family’s attitude toward your dangerous passion? My family thinks cliff diving is super cool. But I know my mom and dad sometimes get nervous watching me.
Complete the following sentence: A cliff diver is automatically also a… crazy person.
Have you lost the ability to jump into the water like a ‘normal’ person? I’ve never been normal. Ever since I was little, I’ve always had to do a somersault or a dive into the water to show off.
Can you do mental math while diving? No, I suck at math.
What impresses you more: Someone who can do one more twist, or someone who can do two less somersaults but with perfect execution? Definitely less difficult and with better execution. I’m a stickler for form and a perfectionist.
What’s the height of the highest cliff you’ve jumped from? So far, 70 feet. But I want to go higher.
How high does a cliff have to be for you to say no? I don’t know, but I’ll know it when I see it!
At what age would you let your kids jump from 90 to 70 feet? I’m still a kid, so I have no idea!
If he hadn’t been a cliff diver, what would he have become? A performing career, where I can do somersaults and put on a show.
Who’s more beautiful when they dive: girls or boys? Is that even a question?! Girls, because they’re always in better shape.
What’s the real luxury, in your opinion? Always being somewhere in the sun!
Is there a sport you really suck at? Any sport that involves a ball.
Who would you like to be for a day? Why? I’d like to be Taylor Swift for a day, because I want to experience what it feels like to be really famous.
Your personal dream location (regardless of budget): The Bahamas.
Why cliff diving and not ballet? Cliff diving has a higher fear factor, and I like that it’s unique and different from other common sports.
Describe yourself in 3 words:
– Driven
– Challenging
– Passionate
Your greatest weakness? Throwing a soccer ball.
What headline would you like to read about yourself? Maya Kelly wins the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
Something you’ve always wanted to do but never dared to do (doesn’t have to be diving-related)? Skydiving.
If you had to choose a song that best represents your current style/movement, what would it be? Glorious by Macklemore and Skylar Grey
What advice would you give to yourself 10 years ago? Your dreams and passions can change, and taking the risk to try something new might be the best thing to do.
