On Thursday, July 24, 2025, the men’s high diving competition officially began at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, kicking off with the opening two rounds at Sentosa Island. The event opened at 2:00 p.m. local time (UTC+8), featuring 23 athletes from 15 countries, each aiming to make an early impact in what promises to be a tightly contested championship.
The first two rounds showcased explosive performances and polished technique from emerging male divers. Spanish standout Carlos Gimeno emerged as the early leader, delivering a flawless triple somersault with half twist in round one (difficulty 2.8), earning him a joint top score of 75.60 and placing him alongside veteran Gary Hunt atop the standings. In the second round, without difficulty limits, Gimeno executed a high-difficulty dive (5.6) that earned 142.80 points, reaffirming his solo lead with a total of 218.40, edging ahead of American James Lichtenstein, Romanian Constantin Popovici, and British legend Gary Hunt.
Among other headline competitors listed in the official start roster were David Colturi, Braden Rumpit, Gary Hunt, and Cătălin Preda—seasoned divers expected to influence the competition as rounds progress toward the medal-deciding rounds on Sunday. Although final standings remain pending the closing rounds, the early position of Gimeno as provisional leader signals his potential as a future medalist.
High diving’s debut day highlighted the global appeal and growing depth of male talent in the sport. The combination of technical precision, daring difficulty selections, and dramatic execution has amplified anticipation for rounds three through six, scheduled July 25–27, where medals will be decided based on cumulative scores of the final dives along with scores from the first and third rounds.
World Aquatics chief Brent Nowicki recently commented that the 2025 Championships are expected to set records in medal distribution, reflecting increasing global competitiveness across all disciplines—an uptick also evident on the high diving stage where emerging athletes are challenging established stars.
Round 1 established the technical baseline with uniform difficulty dives for all athletes, while Round 2 freed competitors to showcase their most challenging dives. Gimeno’s flawless entries and consistency across both rounds established a clear early narrative. Behind him, James Lichtenstein and David Colturi (USA) and Constantin Popovici (Romania) closely trailed, promising fierce rivalries as the event unfolds.
From Sentosa’s temporary platform, fans and judges have witnessed a sport evolving—where new faces are beginning to rival longtime champions in both execution and ambition. With the next rounds featuring complex dives up to difficulty ratings exceeding 6.0, the contest remains wide open. Popovici, Hunt, and Preda each launched high-stakes attempts to carve into the leaderboard by the end of round four.
As the high diving competition unfolds through July 27, attention will shift to who can deliver under pressure in final dives. The scores from the first and third rounds—uniform in difficulty—will be counted alongside the medal-round results. For Gimeno, his strong foundation provides an early edge. For others like Colturi, Lichtenstein, Popovici, Preda, Hunt, and Rumpit, the challenge lies in balancing bravery and precision under increasing stakes.
The opening session from Sentosa affirmed that men’s high diving in 2025 is characterized by a blend of youth, global representation, and high technical standards. With rounds three and four scheduled for July 25 and the ultimate medal showdown on Sunday, rising divers are seizing their moment under both the sun and the spotlight.
