The diving competition at the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025 got off to a flying start at the OCBC Aquatic Centre, with China dominating the mixed 3m & 10m team event and Australia’s Maddison Keeney clinching gold in the women’s 1m springboard.

Led by a star-studded lineup including CHEN Yiwen, CHEN Yuxi and CAO Yuan, China topped the podium with 466.25 points. “This is the first time the four of us are taking part in this mixed team event, and we feel very glad to have done so,” said Chen. Despite feeling “a little under the weather,” she praised her teammates’ performances, especially the platform divers who “performed incredibly today.”

Mexico secured silver with a solid 426.30, while Japan earned a surprise bronze with 409.65 — a promising start for the host continent on day one of diving.

In the women’s 1m springboard final, Keeney took control from the outset to finish with 308.00, ahead of China’s LI Yajie (290.25) and Italy’s Chiara Pellacani (270.80). “It was more (from) me,” Keeney said of the pressure to win. “I know that with the high level of difficulty list, I have the potential to win maybe more easily than others.”

Keeney, a mainstay on the springboard scene, said she’s staying in the sport through 2028. “I just really love diving, training, travelling the world, making new friends,” she shared. “So as long as I’m having fun, I’ll keep diving.”

The 27-year-old also reflected on her growth since competing in Kazan a decade ago. “Before my last dive, I remembered how 10 years ago I just jumped off the board… but I’ve got a lot of experience now,” she said. “If it happens, it happens, and all I can do is just do my best.”