Workshop led by World Aquatics Development and Digital teams focused on personal brand-building and elevating the sport’s profile
As high diving continues its growth globally, World Aquatics is helping athletes harness that momentum through storytelling. During the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025, the World Aquatics Development and Athlete Services team, in collaboration with the Digital & Content team, hosted a dedicated on-site workshop designed to help high divers develop their personal brands and attract sponsorships.
The session, led by Luca Fasani, Senior Manager of Digital & Content at World Aquatics, provided athletes with practical strategies for presenting themselves online, both authentically as themselves and ambassadors of their sport.
“High diving has such strong visual appeal. It’s bold, it’s dramatic and it showcases the incredible capabilities of the human body,”. “Sponsors are drawn to engaging stories and authentic athletes. As the sport’s audience grows, social media gives high divers a great platform to position themselves as influencers and engaging storytellers.”
Athletes were guided through actionable strategies to increase their visibility and appeal to potential sponsors:
- Share your story: Post consistently, highlight your journey, training, challenges and behind-the-scenes moments
- Engage with purpose and authenticity: Interact with fans and tag relevant brands where you can
- Think like a brand: Identify what makes you unique; your journey, values and personality
- Partner authentically: Only promote products and causes you truly believe in
Among the athletes at the workshop were two high diving stars: James Lichtenstein (USA) and Iris Schmidbauer (Germany).
James Lichtenstein (USA) – 2nd place, 2024 High Diving World Cup Bahrain
Originally a gymnast and trampoline athlete, James transitioned into diving and later discovered high diving after university.
“High diving lets you push your body to its absolute limits, I love that,” said James. “Social media helps us share that passion. More sponsorship support would allow us to grow the sport further and maybe even reach the Olympics one day. Everybody wants to be an Olympian.”
Iris Schmidbauer (Germany) – First-ever European High Diving Champion (20m), Rome 2022
Inspired by the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Iris began diving and rose through the ranks without a coach. Iris is competing at the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025 just 10 months after giving birth to her first child. She now wants to share her journey online more, to inspire others and expand her platform.
“I want to show more of what it’s really like; the nerves, the excitement the training,” Iris said. “I want to be world champion one day, and with the right support I truly believe that’s possible.”
By helping to equip divers with the tools to tell their stories, World Aquatics is helping to grow high diving, and all aquatic sports, both in and out of the water.
Continue following the World Aquatics website and social media platforms throughout Singapore 2025 to find out about many more initiatives.
To view all athlete-related activities and registration taking place at the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025, please download the World Aquatics Events Insider App using the link below:
Event Category: Athletes and Development Activities
Password: WCH25SGPACT