Winnipeg, July 3, 2025 – Three athletes were crowned champions on day one of the Junior Development National Championships in Winnipeg, where Philippe Wadsworth, Adele Taylor, and Rowan Kerr claimed top honours.
Wadsworth, who trains at the KGTC Diving Centre, was the first to strike gold on Thursday, collecting a total of 376.60 points in the Group D platform event.
“I feel great! I was a bit nervous at the beginning of the competition, but once I started to dive, I felt calmer. I’m really happy!” said the athlete from British Columbia.
Wadsworth’s final dive, a one-and-a-half somersault with twist in pike position, was his highest-scoring effort of the day, good for 51.60 points—the highest score awarded by the judges during the platform finals.
“I felt confident going into this competition, and I was well-prepared. My goal was to finish first or second. My dives went super well today, which allowed me to win. I’m really proud to have made the finals and to have finished on the podium,” said Wadsworth, whose parents cheered him on from the Pan Am Pool’s bleachers.
In the coming days, Wadsworth will also compete in the 3m and 1m springboard events. “I’d like to finish on the podium again, so I’m going to do my very best. We’ll see how it goes!”
Alberta’s Hawksley Burnett (Regina Diving Club) placed second in the same event with 365.45 points, followed by British Columbia’s Rykker Powell (KGTC Diving), with 313.45.
In the girls’ Group D 1m springboard finals, Alberta’s Adele Taylor (EKDC) captured gold with 359.45 points, edging out Quebec’s Lexie Cotton-Gagnon (ARO, 337.35) and Ontario’s Margaret Jeon (Forest City, 318.20), who secured silver and bronze, respectively.
“When I got here this morning, I was really excited, and I just wanted to do my best,” said a proud-sounding Taylor. “I was a bit nervous at first, but I felt better after my first dive. I’m really proud of how I dove in the finals. And the atmosphere was great throughout the entire competition! It was hot, but I really like this pool. I’m now feeling a lot more confident about my upcoming competitions,” she added. Taylor will take part in the 3m springboard, platform, and team events later this week.
The boys’ Group C 3m springboard finals were the last event to take place on Thursday.
Thanks to his consistent efforts throughout the competition, Ontario’s Rowan Kerr clinched the gold medal with 430.25 points.
The battle for second and third place, however, was a tight one. In fact, only 0.45 points separated the silver and bronze medallists. Manitoba’s Gabriel Brombach (Revolution) finished second with 369.15 points, while Owen Dansereau (Nepean Ottawa) placed third with 368.70.
The first day of the Junior Development National Championships concluded with a rip contest, in which participants attempted to make a splash-less entry into the water.
The Junior Development National Championships will continue on Friday.
Click here for all the results.
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More information :
Alexandra Piché
Manager, Communications
Diving Canada
C: 514 625-5513
alexandra@diving.ca