Cliff and High Diving: Literature Review on Injury Patterns with Expert Commentary.

High diving, an emerging extreme sport with dives from heights up to 27 m, presents unique biomechanical and psychological risks. Athletes face high-velocity water entry, generating intense forces that can result in musculoskeletal and soft tissue injuries, especially during entry. Injury rates are higher in practice than competition, possibly linked to overfatigue and technical errors. Psychological stress - such as fear, fatigue, and mental blocks - may contribute to injury risk but is understudied. Preventative strategies including limiting the number of dives, technical training, and psychological support are proposed. Despite lower acute injury rates compared to contact sports, the repetitive high-impact nature of cliff and high diving raises concerns for long-term health consequences. Existing gaps in injury surveillance and athlete education highlight the need for targeted, sport-specific health initiatives. As high diving aims to be included in the Olympics, evolving comprehensive safety frameworks are vital to protect athlete well-being and support performance longevity.