The future of high diving was on full display in Fort Lauderdale this weekend as the world’s top young athletes competed at the World Aquatics Junior High Diving Championships 2026, alongside the opening stop of the World Aquatics High Diving World Cup.
Held from Saturday 16 to Sunday 17 May at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center, the event brought together the sport’s emerging stars for four rounds of competition across two days, with rounds one and two contested on Saturday before the finals concluded on Sunday.
The championships marked only the second edition of the World Aquatics Junior High Diving Championships following the inaugural event in Brasília in 2024, underlining the continued growth of aquatic sports at youth level.
Fort Lauderdale once again proved itself a fitting stage for the sport. Reopened in 2022, the state-of-the-art Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center has rapidly established itself as one of high diving’s premier venues.
The unique atmosphere of the event also gave junior athletes the opportunity to compete alongside the world’s elite senior high divers, sharing the same venue and environment as the athletes contesting the World Aquatics High Diving World Cup.
USA’s Grace Yeomans claims girls’ 15-16 crown
In the girls’ 15m event for athletes aged 15-16, 15-year-old Grace Yeomans delivered a composed and consistent series of dives to secure gold for the USA with 151.35 points it the final.
Her victory highlighted the remarkable standard already being achieved by the sport’s youngest competitors in an event that demands technical precision, courage and composure.
Speaking about the event and atmosphere, she said;
“I am so grateful for every opportunity to come and train at this pool. It’s amazing and I'll be back again soon.”
Ukraine’s Vyshyvanov tops boys’ 15-16 field
The boys’ 15m age 15-16 competition produced a thrilling battle between Dmytro Vyshyvanov and Tanner Lange.
Fifteen-year-old Vyshyvanov captured gold for Ukraine with 272.20 points after a confident display across all four rounds, stating
“I brought some very good dives today”
while 16-year-old Lange earned silver for the USA on 261.10 points.
Canada sweeps girls’ 17-19 podium
Canada dominated the girls’ 15m competition for athletes aged 17-19, completing an impressive clean sweep of the podium.
Seventeen-year-old Kelly-Ann Tessier claimed gold with 252.00 points, finishing ahead of fellow Canadian Caitlyn Padgett, 19, who secured silver on 242.50.
The bronze medal also stayed in Canadian hands thanks to Fiona Keilly, who finished with 216.65 points.
When speaking about her performance, Tessier said:
“I've been working really hard, and it's my second world championship, and I'm really happy I got to win this time.”
Australia, Mexico and China completed places four through six in a highly competitive and exciting weekend.
China dominates boys’ 17-19 event
China produced a commanding performance in the boys’ 15m 17-19 category, taking both gold and silver.
Eighteen-year-old Baijing Tao delivered one of the standout performances of the championships to win gold with an exceptional 352.95 points, narrowly ahead of compatriot Zile Wang, 17, who scored 348.20.
When reflecting on his win, Baijing Tao told World Aquatics:
“It means a lot. I missed out on the Junior Championship in Brazil in 2024 and I have been preparing.”
American diver James Boardman completed the podium with bronze on 267.35 points, while Mexico secured fourth and fifth positions.
A global showcase for the sport’s future
The championships highlighted the increasingly international depth of junior high diving, with gold medals shared across four nations in the four events.
The performances also underlined the extraordinary progression of the sport’s next generation, with several champions still only 15 or 17 years old competing confidently from the 15m platform on one of high diving’s biggest stages.
The 2026 World Aquatics Junior High Diving Championships offered another exciting glimpse into the future of the sport.