Reason why women are banned from waterslide that world champion diver ignored

This is the reason why a water slide banned women from riding, and it may not be what you think.

Yep, it's 2024 and here we are, discussing something that women aren't allowed to do while their male counterparts are free to go ahead and enjoy.

But before we jump to conclusions, it's important to note that there's actually a rather specific reasoning behind why women aren't allowed to ride this particular water slide.

Ever heard of a 'men's only' water slide? (Getty Stock Image)

The 'men's only' water slide

Located in Austria's Area 47 water park, the vertical drop slide is dubbed as 'Europe's fastest water slide', and it certainly looks like it lives up to its name as it can reach speeds of up to 50mph.

But something riders will be unlikely to miss is the big sign that's placed right next to the entrance of the slide, that reads: "Due to high risk of injury, women are not allowed to use this slide!"

Though this has been enough to put many women off from going on the slide, it didn't stop seven-time world champion cliff diver Rhiannan Iffland, who ignored the warning and took the plunge anyway.

The Australian decided to film it too, and post it on social media.

Take a look:

So, why exactly are women banned from the high-speed slide?

Area 47 previously clarified to LADbible that women aren’t banned from the attraction due to ‘sexist’ reasons, but due to the chance of them getting some pretty nasty injuries from it.

In recent years, there have been some shocking reports of women getting their insides ‘ripped apart’ by high-speed water slides such as Area 47's.

According to the National Library of Medicine in the US, females can sustain terrible injuries if high pressured water goes into their body. There's also the risk of infections due to foreign bodies found in the water.

Area 47 said that when the water park was built back in 2009, it ‘did not intend to create a men-only attraction’.

"Initially, this particular slide was open to both women and men,” a spokesperson explained. "However, in the second year, we noticed a significant increase in accidents on this slide, which required us to take action."

Australian diver Rhiannan Iffland tried out the slide for herself (Instagram/@rhiannan_iffland)

Ensuring the safety of guests, 'regardless of gender'

The water park then consulted with doctors and the authorities, as well as the manufacturer of the slide, which ‘led to a difficult decision’: "Either disassemble the water slide or restrict its use to men only, as it stands now."

"Our highest priority is ensuring the safety and happiness of all our guests, regardless of gender," they went on.

"The risks for women using this slide were tragically highlighted a few years ago when a woman was severely injured on a similar slide in the Canary Islands."

After Iffland's clip of the slide went viral online, she told news.com.au: "It was never my intent to mock the safety regulations of this water slide.

"A person’s safety is paramount and I am constantly weighing up any danger with my job. To suggest otherwise, is wrong."