FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The 2026 AAU National Championships officially opened yesterday at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center at the International Swimming Hall of Fame, and Day 1 delivered a record-breaking milestone: what AAU believes to be the largest diving meet in the history of the world. Record attendance filled the pool deck from morning through evening as athletes from across the country — from first-time 9-and-under competitors to Masters-division veterans — took to the boards for the Amateur Athletic Union's premier diving championship.

The record turnout underscores the continued growth of competitive diving with AAU. Organizers credited the size and energy of Day 1 to the depth of participation across every event on the schedule, from youth springboard events to synchronized diving and Masters divisions. AAU intends to file an application with Guinness World Records for consideration of an official world-record designation.

“What we witnessed today is a defining moment for our sport and the AAU. We believe this to be the largest diving meet in the history of the world, and it's a testament to how far the AAU diving community has come. The deck was full of energy and enthusiasm, every event was competitive, and every athlete out there — whether it's their first national meet or their tenth — is part of something record-setting. We couldn't be prouder of what our divers, coaches, and clubs accomplished on Day 1,” said Lewis Fellinger, National Aquatics Chair for the AAU.

Day 1 Results

Champions were crowned across seventeen events on Day 1, spanning youth age groups, Masters divisions, and synchronized diving:

- Masters Silver Women's 19-49 3M — Allison Gargalianos (Solo Aquatics), 133.55
- Masters Gold Women's 19-49 3M — Elisabeth Evaldi (Jersey Diving Academy), 279.65
- Masters Silver Men's 19-49 1M — Lucas Smit (Philadelphia Diving Academy), 219.30
- Masters Gold Men's 19-49 1M — Caleb Arnot (Jersey Diving Academy), 333.35
- Masters Gold Men's 50+ 1M — Eric Bomberger (Jersey Diving Academy), 287.15
- Boys 12 1M — Gunnar Mobley (Charger Dive Club), 303.30
- Girls 12 3M — Kimber MacMaster (Northside Diving Academy), 272.75
- Boys 13 1M — Charlie Torrione (Duke Diving Club), 304.30
- Girls 13 3M — Aliyana Martin (Mansfield Diving), 298.60
- Boys 11 1M — Aidan Turner (Marlins Diving Club), 175.75
- Boys 10 1M — Ayden Parris (Long Island Divers), 197.30
- Boys 9 & Under 1M — Colt Costanza (Tennessee Aquatics Diving), 137.80
- Girls 11 3M — Heartleee Maskulinski (Buffalo Blizzard), 189.65
- Girls 10 3M — Abbygail Rose Ayroso (Arrow Dive Club), 183.50
- Girls 9 & Under 3M — Rylan Bruns (GC Divers), 128.45
- Synchro Boys 13 & Under 1M — Haskell Fagan & Levi Berlyn (YMCA Silver Fins), 184.40
- Synchro Girls 13 & Under 3M — Willa Johnson & Eloise Hong (Duke Diving Club), 174.60

Competition continues throughout the week at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center at the International Swimming Hall of Fame, with additional age divisions and events taking the boards each day. AAU expects attendance and participation records to continue climbing as the meet progresses toward its conclusion.

ABOUT THE AAU:

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer sports organizations in the United States, dedicated to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs. AAU Diving oversees national championship competition for divers of all ages, from youth novice to Masters, across the country.