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Rhiannan Iffland left it late but completed a superb final effort to claim the 20m high dive title at the world championships.

Australian Rhiannan Iffland has put on a late show at the Diving World Championships in South Korea, snatching gold with her last effort in the 20m high dive.

Iffland took out the event by the smallest margin in the competition's history - just 0.15 points - as she edged Mexico's Adriana Jimenez into silver with Great Britain's Jessica Macaulay taking bronze.

The Newcastle native backed up her gold medal winning performance from the 2017 championships in Hungary.

Iffland completed the competition with a score of 298.05, as Jimenez logged 297.90.

The Mexican seemed headed for the title, leading comfortably with 211.90 after three of her four dives. Iffland came into the final round in fourth.

Pulling out all stops in her last dive, Iffland executed an inward three somersaults with a half twist in the tuck position, the judges suitably impressed in awarding her 98.80 points.

It rocketed her up to first place, Jimenez having one last dive to reclaim the lead only to score a more modest 86 points with her back three somersaults with pike.

"I felt a bit nervous, but I kept the dive I feel more comfortable with for the end," Iffland said.

"It's difficult to handle all those emotions at the top of that platform, but I managed to flip them around and bring in some positive energy. That's why I love this sport."