Tempe, Ariz. (May 1, 2023) —AAU Diving was honored to help support the inaugural Dive into Diversity Festival on April 28-29, 2023 in Tempe, Arizona.

The Dive into Diversity Event Series aims to be a catalyst to change the landscape of the Olympic sport of diving by empowering members of underrepresented communities through awareness, exposure and access.

As part of the inaugural event, Tempe hosted around 50 youth participants, ages 17 and under, for a dive showcase, water safety and dive clinics at Arizona State University’s Mona Plummer Aquatic Center — regarded as one of the country’s finest outdoor swimming and diving facilities.

“We are thrilled to be in Tempe to kick off this event,” said Diane Maiese, first Black NCAA Champion, first Black NCAA Div. 1 coach and first Black female World Aquatics-certified U.S. judge. “Studies show that children are more likely to participate in sports when they see talented athletes that look like them… Through Dive into Diversity, we hope to show Tempe and the world that there is a place for them on the pool deck. Dive into Diversity was created to refill the pools that were once drained and give aquatics back to the communities it was taken from.”


The event kicked off with a dive showcase featuring diverse divers, followed by a water safety and “Learn to Dive” clinics for youth. Special guests included Katura Horton-Perinchief, the first Black female Olympian as well as members of the USA Diving Olympic Team and High Performance Squad.

Did you know:

• The majority (79%) of children in low-income families have little-to-no swimming ability.
• Black and Latino individuals are less likely to learn to swim — and more likely to drown — than their white counterparts.
• Aquatic sports are the only sports that also provide a life-saving skill. Diving instills confidence, focus, and discipline in its athletes which are carried with them off the pool deck and into the real world.

 

 

 

 

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