The final day of the European Junior Diving Championships in Rzeszów, Poland, was filled with incredible tension. Two finals featuring Ukrainian athletes highlighted the evening session of the tournament.

The first set of medals was contested by the girls on the 3-meter springboard in age group A. Diana Karnafel showed great determination, earning a silver medal with a score of 434.85 points, finishing behind a competitor from Sweden.

The final event of the Championship was the boys’ platform diving final in age group A. Danylo Avanesov and Marko Barsukov fought until the very last dive, and their efforts culminated in a remarkable triumph. Danylo became the champion with a score of 543.65 points, confirming his excellence for the second consecutive time, while Marko Barsukov claimed the silver medal with 536.55 points.

n total, Ukrainian athletes won 17 medals: 6 gold, 9 silver, and 2 bronze. For the second consecutive time, the Ukrainian junior diving team secured the overall team title at the European Junior Diving Championships.

The President of the Ukrainian Federations of Diving and Synchronized Swimming, Igor Lysov, congratulated the entire team on their outstanding performance:

“Once again, Ukrainians have demonstrated willpower and a hunger for victory. Thank you for making the Ukrainian anthem resonate on the international stage and for raising the blue and yellow flag 17 times. This is the best performance in the history of the European Junior Championships. Bravo! I am proud of you.”

Medalists of the European Junior Diving Championships:

Gold – Danylo Avanesov and Marko Barsukov (synchronized platform)

Gold – Alisa Meshkova and Diana Shevchenko (synchronized platform)

Gold – Kseniia Bochek (1m springboard, group B)

Gold – Diana Karnafel (1m springboard, group A)

Gold – Dmytro Stepanov (3m springboard, group B)

Gold – Danylo Avanesov (platform, group A)

Silver – Danylo Avanesov, Kyrylo Azarov, Karina Hlyzhyna, Dmytro Stepanov (mixed team event)

Silver – Valerii Maleiev (1m springboard, group B)

Silver – Karina Hlyzhyna (3m springboard, group B)

Silver – Elizaveta Dyadiuk (1m springboard, group B)

Silver – Kyrylo Azarov and Maksym Mirza (synchronized 3m springboard)

Silver – Kyrylo Azarov (3m springboard, group A)

Silver – Karina Hlyzhyna (platform, group B)

Silver – Diana Karnafel (3m springboard, group A)

Silver – Marko Barsukov (platform, group A)

Bronze – Maksym Mirza (1m springboard, group A)

Bronze – Valerii Maleiev (3m springboard, group B)

The Junior European Diving Championship kicked off in Rzeszów, Poland, featuring athletes from 25 countries across the continent.

Seventeen finals will take place throughout the week, with the first set of medals awarded in the mixed team event.

Team Ukraine was represented by: Danylo Avanesov, Kyrylo Azarov, Karina Hlyzhyna, and Dmytro Stepanov, the latter making his debut at a competition of this level.

The Ukrainian team claimed second place with a score of 341.40 points. The champions were Germany (349.20 points), while Great Britain secured third place (303.55 points).

The President of the Ukrainian Federations of Diving and Synchronized Swimming, Igor Lysov, congratulated the athletes and coaching staff on their debut medal and encouraged them to keep fighting in every competition.

The athletes noted that competing was emotionally challenging following the morning events in Kyiv, as they were deeply concerned for their family and friends. Despite the psychological strain, they remained determined. “We are proud to represent Ukraine at these championships and to remind the world that Russia’s war against our country continues. Every day, innocent civilians, including children, die from Russian bombs. The world must continue to support Ukraine,” emphasized the silver medalists of the European Championship.

The Ukrainian national diving team has announced its roster for the 2024 Olympic Games:

🔹 Kseniia Bailo

🔹 Kirill Boliukh

🔹 Mark Hrytsenko

🔹 Oleh Kolodiy

🔹 Danylo Konovalov

🔹 Viktoriya Kesar

🔹 Sofiia Lyskun

🔹 Anna Pysmenska

🔹 Oleksii Sereda

The Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanius, and the President of the Ukrainian Federations of Diving and Synchronized Swimming, Igor Lysov, met with the athletes and coaching staff.

At the Transfiguration Cathedral, the Ukrainian diving team received blessings and protective charms from the Metropolitan. Additionally, 2024 World Championship medalists Oleksii Sereda and Kirill Boliukh were awarded the Medal of Saint George the Victorious.

A reminder: Ukrainian divers secured seven qualification spots for the Games. A total of eight medal sets will be contested in Paris!

Ukraine, alongside China and Great Britain, is among the top three nations with maximum representation in synchronized diving events.

A World and European Championship medalist in diving participated in the presentation of the new Olympic uniform collection for Ukraine’s national team.

Alongside him, the 2024 Paris Games uniform was modeled by: Vladyslava and Maryna Aleksiiva (synchronized swimming), Liudmyla Luzan (canoeing), Daria Bilodid (judo), and Igor Trunov, Oleh Kukharik, Dmytro Danylenko, Ivan Semykin (kayaking).

The athletes will wear this 4F-designed gear during all official ceremonies and events, including the opening and closing ceremonies, medal presentations, and off-competition activities.

According to the designers, traditional Ukrainian ornaments were intertwined with modern trends, creating a harmonious and stylish look. Additionally, the uniforms feature images of wheat ears, symbolizing life, prosperity, and the fertility of the homeland, deeply meaningful to all Ukrainians.

The word “Victory” is encoded within the ornaments and details of the new design, reminding athletes and fans alike that every game, match, and performance is a step toward a greater Victory. Another standout feature of the collection is the incorporation of embroidered elements, adding authenticity and a touch of national flair.

A reminder: the Paris Olympic Games will kick off on July 26.

The European Diving Championships concluded in Belgrade, featuring participants from 26 countries.

Ukraine’s team was represented by 13 athletes, including five debutants making their first appearance at a continental championship.

The Ukrainian team secured four medals: one gold, two silver, and one bronze. Just shy of the podium were Viktoriya Kesar and Bohdan Chyzhovskyi in the mixed synchronized 3-meter springboard event and Danylo Avanesov in individual platform diving.

Thanks to their collective efforts and the points accumulated throughout the championship, the Ukrainian diving team won the Team Trophy!

The President of the Ukrainian Federations of Diving and Synchronized Swimming, Igor Lysov, congratulated all the athletes and coaching staff on this significant achievement, emphasizing the importance of every sporting victory in these times.

Here’s a recap of Ukraine’s medalists at the 2024 European Championships:

🏅 1st place – Kseniia Bailo and Sofiia Lyskun (synchronized platform diving)

🥈 2nd place – Danylo Avanesov, Karina Hlyzhyna, Stanislav Oliferchyk, Anna Pysmenska (mixed team event)

🥈 2nd place – Sofiia Lyskun (platform diving)

🥉 3rd place – Kseniia Bailo and Marko Barsukov (synchronized mixed platform diving)

Bravo, team!

17-year-old Kirill Boliukh and 14-year-old Mark Hrytsenko claim silver in synchronized platform diving at the Paris Diving Open, hosted by the Aquatics Centre.

This venue will also host the 2024 Olympic competitions in diving, synchronized swimming, and water polo in July.

The Ukrainian duo, scoring a total of 375.21 points, were outperformed only by the renowned representatives of Great Britain, Tom Daley and Noah Williams, who scored 453.84 points.

The President of the Ukrainian Federations of Diving and Synchronized Swimming, Igor Lysov, congratulated the athletes and their coaching team on their medal-winning debut on the international stage.

In total, the test event in Paris featured participants from 16 countries, including France, Ukraine, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Italy, the Dominican Republic, the USA, China, Cuba, Australia, Great Britain, Japan, Latvia, and Ireland.

The International Diving Tournament among juniors has concluded in Dresden, gathering the strongest athletes from 21 countries.

These competitions were a great rehearsal before the upcoming European and World Junior Championships, scheduled for July in Gdansk and November in Rio de Janeiro, respectively.

The Ukrainian team, represented by 13 athletes in Dresden, won 9 medals: 1 gold, 7 silver, and 1 bronze.

Those just short of the podium included Sofiya Esman and Diana Shevchenko in platform diving, Maksym Mirza in 3-meter springboard diving, and Dmytro Stepanov in 1-meter springboard diving, indicating the high potential of our athletes.

Congratulations to the winners and medalists of the competition, and we wish them further sporting success.

Medalists of the International Tournament:

Gold:

Valeriy Malyeyev (1m springboard, Group B)

Silver:

Alisa Myeshkova and Diana Shevchenko (synchronized platform)

Kseniya Bochek (1m springboard, Group B)

Kyrylo Azarov (3m springboard, Group A)

Nazariy Kononenko (3m springboard, Group B)

Kseniya Bochek and Yelizaveta Dyadyuk (synchronized 3m springboard)

Kyrylo Azarov and Maksym Mirza (synchronized 3m springboard)

Marko Barsukov (platform, Group A)

Bronze:

Dmytro Stepanov (3m springboard, Group B)

On the first competitive day of the World Cup Superfinal in diving in Sanya, China, Ukrainians Sofia Lyskun and Ksenia Baylo won bronze medals.

For their synchronized dives from the platform, the girls scored 294.42 points, trailing behind the Chinese and Canadian pairs.

Igor Lysov, President of the Ukrainian Diving and Synchronized Swimming Federation, congratulated the girls and the coaching staff on the award and wished them not to slack off!

This bronze became the second medal for our athletes in this year’s World Cup. They first stepped onto the podium at the stage in Berlin.

“For us, for all of Ukraine, every medal, every victory is important like never before! Therefore, we would like to thank our defenders for the opportunity to compete on the international stage and once again remind the world that Ukrainian athletes, despite the war, are capable of rising to the podium because we are a strong and unbreakable nation,” commented Ksenia Baylo and Sofia Lyskun on their performance!

European Aquatics has announced the winner of the best athlete of 2023 in diving among men. It is our Ukrainian, Oleksiy Sereda!

The 18-year-old athlete won gold medals last year in team events and synchronized diving from the platform at the European Championships, held as part of the III European Games in Gdansk. Oleksiy also climbed to the second step of the podium in synchronized diving from the platform at the World Championships in Fukuoka.

The Ukrainian athlete received the highest number of votes in all three categories. It is worth remembering that in 2022, Oleksii Sereda was also nominated for the European Aquatics Awards and took second place.

Igor Lysov, President of the Ukrainian Diving and Synchronized Swimming Federation, congratulated Oleksiy and the coaching staff on this incredible recognition. “Such victories inspire us, Ukrainians, to new achievements. Every success shows that we are a strong nation, fighting and defending our principles in fair competition. I am confident that European recognition for Oleksiy will be a significant incentive for him in preparation for the most important event of the year – the Olympic Games.”

The remarkable conclusion of the World Championship in the Qatari capital showcased the talents of our divers. On the final day in Doha, the Ukrainian team’s medal collection was enriched with yet another bronze medal in men’s platform diving.

The author of this achievement is 18-year-old Oleksiy Sereda, who, with a record-breaking score of 528.65 points, was surpassed only by two Chinese athletes.

This World Championship award marks the first for men’s platform diving in individual competition.

“This is my 4th World Championship, and finally, I managed to secure an individual medal. I focused and achieved it. Everything went as I wanted,” commented Oleksiy Sereda on his performance.

Igor Lysov, the President of the Ukrainian Diving and Synchronized Swimming Federation, congratulated the athlete and the entire coaching staff on the incredible conclusion of the World Championship in Doha and thanked them for their dedicated effort.