In Paris, Osmar was the first Mexican athlete in 40 years to earn two medals at the same Olympics.

At the last World Championships in Doha, Qatar, he denied China a 10-peat by winning the (non-Olympic) 1m event.

This spring, at the World Cup stop in Guadalajara, Mexico, he and his Olympic silver-medal-winning partner Juan Manuel Celaya Hernandez beat a new pair from China in 3m synchro for the first time.

“Revenge is in L.A.,” he said after capturing the individual bronze – but not gold – on the men’s 3m springboard in Paris. He was already looking ahead to the 2028 Olympics.

“The sky is the limit for me,” he added.

Perhaps it’s time to get to know this powerhouse from Mexico City. He sat down in April to answer a few life questions.

Who are your biggest influences?

“I have two. My uncle Erick Ibarra started me at diving and was always saying, ‘Hey, the Chinese are not lazy. The Chinese are not eating French fries. They're not eating candy. They're not eating all this stuff,’ blah, blah, blah. He was always pushing me to be better because he knew I could be the best. And my papa, Sergio Olverra, always told me stories from when he was an American football player – how he was Mexico's champion with the White Eagles (Águilas Blancas), or when he won titles in Spain. He always pushed me by saying, ‘You have something special. Use it. Take advantage of it.’”

Do you know why your parents named you Osmar?

“My parents looked in a name book. They said they liked it because of the meaning: forever glorious.”

Your most prized possession?

“The Olympic medals but also my world championship medals from Fukuoka 2023 because after I won [silver on 1m and silver on 3m], I knew I was made for this. I was already training with coach Ma Jin since 2020. If it wasn't for Ma Jin, Mexico wouldn't have as many medals. For me, she is the best coach in the world and a second mom to me.”

How do you change your mindset on days when you don't want to practice?

“I just start, and after I start there's no backing down. There's no leaving it halfway.  I have to finish.”

Any secret talents?

“Cooking. I’m a good cook, especially desserts. Cookies, brownies, cakes, cheesecake…My grandma taught me a little bit but mostly I taught myself. I just read the ingredients real quick.” 

Remember your first perfect 10?

“I never hit a 10!  It’s still on my to-do list. If I did get one, I think it would be for my 109C [a forward 4½ with 3.8 degree of difficulty]. They said they could have given me a 10 at last year's World Cup in Montreal. They should've given it to me!”

What it’s like to dive synchro with Juan Manuel Celaya Hernandez?

“I’m a little taller, 170 cm. He’s 168 cm.  We're about the same weight, 69 kg (or 152 lbs.) But we don’t see each other in the air. We used to have different hurdles [at the Paris 2024 Olympics] so we help each other with the rhythm.”

Motivational song?

“‘Tu No Vive Asi’” by Bad Bunny. It gets me into the competition. It’s mostly about the lyrics but I’ve never met Bad Bunny or seen him in concert.”

Your favorite (non-diving) World Aquatics sport?

“Open water because swimming in the sea is pretty cool. I like to swim in the ocean but it’s very tiring.”