"VAN" (Sports Desk - 03.02.2026) :: Following the inaugural World Aquatics High Diving Junior Championships, held in Brasilia (BRA) in 2024, the youth categories will return with even greater momentum. All junior athletes (age groups 15-16 and 17-19) will compete from the 15m tower. Overseeing the junior high diving development programme is 2013 world champion and current World Aquatics High Diving Chair Orlando Duque, one of the sport’s most respected figures. “Working with these young high divers has been incredibly inspiring,” said Duque. “The sport resonates naturally with younger athletes, and we’re seeing a level of skill and confidence that continues to rise each season. The senior athletes show what is possible today, while the juniors are already pushing toward what will be possible in the future from 27m and 20m.” “Today’s announcement is an important step forward for the sport,” added Duque. “The 2026 World Cup season offers a clear pathway toward the World Aquatics Championships – Budapest 2027, while also giving junior athletes more opportunities to learn from their heroes. Having certainty that Fort Lauderdale will host in both 2026 and 2028 is a major advantage as we continue building toward our long-term objectives — including the ambition of seeing high diving on the programme at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.”
On Tue, Feb 3, 2026