Lake Macquarie's Rhiannan Iffland has described the cancellation of this year's cliff diving tour as "just a fork in the road" as the four-time defending world champion now resets for 2021.
In the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic, Red Bull officials have opted to scrap the season but also touted a potential stand-alone event in Sydney in November.
Iffland followed up via social media: "I really wish I wasn't writing this post".
"The news came yesterday that the 2020 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series has been cancelled due to the current COVID-19 crisis.
"It's just a fork In the road. We will be back focusing our energy towards a bigger and better 2021.
"Personally, although we saw it coming, I'm still devastated. It's made me realise how much passion and appreciation I have for the lifestyle I was living.
"However, there is still hopes of staging a stand-alone event in Sydney in November.
"In the meantime stay safe, stay positive and, most importantly, stay healthy."
With athletes from 18 different nations, last month the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series season was postponed until August. Scheduled stops in Italy and France had since been scrapped. The entire campaign has now followed suit.
"In the light of health concerns and advice from the authorities, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series season has been suspended for 2020. We trust that this decision will be understood and respected by everyone," read this week's announcement.
"All efforts and energy are focused on an outstanding 2021 season, when elite divers as well as young up-and-coming talent will once again wow the crowds with their breathtaking free-falls from up to 27 metres.
"We remain hopeful of staging a stand-alone event in Australia in appreciation of our loyal fans and to grant the planet's finest divers a chance to showcase their supreme acrobatic skills.
"Red Bull Australia are doing everything they can to be prepared to host the event in Sydney in November, 2020.
"The safety of the public, the divers, the crew and all others involved is the number one priority and, along with government advice, will ultimately determine the possibility of doing so closer to the date."
The international series was set to introduce pay parity between genders in 2020.
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