Men’s diving went from strength-to-strength on the continent in 2024, with several high-level international medals across 12 months of non-stop action. This year will provide a new set of challenges.
The 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore frrom July 11 to August 3 will be where fans can expect Europeans to hold their own against the likes of China and the United States, as was the case last year when Great Britain earned Olympic medals in the men’s 3m & 10m synchro – through Jack Laugher and Anthony Harding and Tom Daley and Noah Williams respectively.
One of the biggest stories of the year will be the absence of Daley, following his decision to retire from the sport after that Olympic medal. That leaves Williams – who also took an individual bronze medal in the 10m platform at the Paris 2024 Games – with a choice of proceeding individually or looking for another synchro partner.
The other three European athletes to secure global medals last year will most likely be seeking to repeat that feat in Singapore – which will be 18 months after the previous edition of the competition in Qatar.
Amongst the other countries in contention for a place on that podium in the Asian country will be Ukraine’s Kirill Boliukh and Oleksii Sereda. The pair took a historic bronze at those last World Championships in the men’s 10m synchro, and at only 17 and 19 respectively they can hope for many similar successes.
As well as the World Aquatics Championships the year will also see the return of the European Diving Championships, which are set to take place from May 25 to 31.
Last year’s edition of the competition in Belgrade saw Spain, France and Great Britain share the main spoils in the men’s category. Spain’s Carlos Camacho was a big reason for this as he took two mixed titles, across the platform and team event, which will stand him in good stead when those events return.
Also going well in that competition were France’s Jules Bouyer, Alexis Jandard and Gwendal Bisch. The trio all took gold in Belgrade, with Bouyer also making a particular impact in his home Games that year – making the final and placing eighth in the men’s 3m springboard. All three of these athletes will seek to defend these titles at a European level, with an eye to making a global impact in the summer.
The Italians complete those nations that were amongst the biggest to make an impact in the men’s events in 2024 who will have an eye on 2025 success. Matteo Santoro, Lorenzo Marsaglia, and Giovanni Tocci all earned medals at the most recent World Championships, and will almost certainly be in and around those spots again come Singapore.
Hopes for the European Championships will also be high.
Although the German team didn’t manage as much success as the nations outlined in the men’s category last year, fans will be keen to see how Timo Barthel fares following his decision to press on for another Olympic cycle.
The 28-year-old placed sixth at last year’s Olympics and is in the midst of recovering from injury, but a potential step up to the boards in 2025 is not off the cards, and the story of whether he will be able to return to the heights of his success will be one to follow closely.
Away from the two big competitions, athletes will also likely be using the two legs and super final of the World Aquatics Diving World Cup 2025 for their summer preparations, as the annual event returns for another year.
Stops in Guadalajara (Mexico) and Windsor (Canada) precede the Beijing super final, and Europe’s men have in the past had success at every stage. It will be a good opportunity for fans to get a glimpse of who the summer’s stars may be.
Away from the senior competitions, athletes will also be looking to impress at junior level, as well as some of those from last year’s junior competitions promising to make a mark amongst the elite.
The best chance for the former aspiration will be from June 23 to 29, when Athens plays host to the 2025 European Junior Diving Championships. The week always steals the show as one of the highest-quality junior diving competitions in the world, and a whole host of talented athletes will be making the trip.
Ukraine are likely to make another strong showing, as they have in the junior category in recent years. They took a handful of medals at the World Junior Diving Championships last November, and most of their rathletes will still be eligible for competition.
It’s the German team who, despite their under-performance in the senior category last year, will be most confident of their next generation.
Finn Awe stole the show in 2024, taking two world junior titles, and it will be interesting to see how he deals with what could potentially be a busy schedule in 2025. Add that to the plethora of achievements in both the 14-15 and 16-18 age groups at the competition and throughout the year, and Germany will be in pole position for a similar showing in Athens and beyond.
