Courtesy: Elizabeth Spencer Rosenthal
Fort Lauderdale continues to flex its impressive athletic and aquatic muscle at the highest levels, most recently demonstrating its high diving prowess at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.
James Lichtenstein, 30, who lives in Fort Lauderdale and trains year-round at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex (FLAC), was crowned World Champion in the men’s high diving event, bringing home the first gold medal of the Championships for Team USA. And in a unique historical twist, the last American high diver to accomplish this feat was his coach, Steven LoBue, who won gold in 2017 at the World Championships in Budapest.
LoBue, the Team USA coach and High Diving Coordinator at Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex, also won the high diving silver in 2019 in Gwangju.
Maya Kelly. Photo: Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex
Maya Kelly, 18, also with a Fort Lauderdale connection, captured bronze in the Women’s 20m high diving competition. The youngest competitor in the field, Kelly travels from her home in Minnesota to train at FLAC throughout the year.
“Becoming world champion was a dream come true,” Lichtenstein described. “It was an amazing moment coming out of the water and seeing my teammates jumping up and down and cheering. Hearing the national anthem from the top of the podium is an indescribable feeling. It was a tough competition doing six dives instead of only four, but I felt more than prepared from my training in Fort Lauderdale.”
As a former gold medal high diver and now gold medal coach, LoBue is overcome with gratitude. “Representing your country as an athlete and standing on top of the podium at the pinnacle of your sport is a surreal feeling not many athletes get to experience. As a coach, I found those feelings amplified and significantly more fulfilling,” he said. “I feel genuinely fortunate that I’ve been able to experience the thrill of becoming a world champion both as an athlete and a coach.”
A myriad of factors led to his decision to transition from athlete to coach. “Ultimately, it was a conscious choice to end my career on my own terms,” LoBue reflected. “At a certain point, every athlete’s career is one untimely injury away from being ripped out from under them. And in an inherently dangerous sport like high diving, it just felt like the right move at the right time,” he said. “I have always enjoyed coaching, and with a young family and a world-class high diving facility under construction in Fort Lauderdale, I saw an opportunity to bow out gracefully and still stay involved with the sport I love.”
Steven LoBue. Photo: Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex
With its prime location across from famed Fort Lauderdale Beach, the newly renovated aquatic facility features the highest dive platform in the Western Hemisphere. It is the second tower of its kind in the world, and the first to incorporate diving and high diving for competition, all in one structure. The addition of 15, 20, 24, & 27-meter platforms to an already iconic diving location has made Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex an ideal high diving destination — and they are proud and excited to be ushering in a new era of high diving in the United States.
While high diving is not currently an Olympic event, the sport is rapidly expanding in popularity and is being actively considered for inclusion in future Olympic Games. The existing Olympic diving program includes men’s and women’s individual and synchronized events from the 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform. High diving platforms are considerably higher, soaring to 20 meters for women and 27 meters for men.
Although not on the program for 2028, Coach LoBue is optimistic about the possibility of high diving in the Olympics. “I truly believe high diving would thrive as an Olympic sport,” he said. “These athletes are nothing short of incredible and the feats they perform are absolutely awe-inspiring. Given a chance, I believe it would be one of the highest viewed sports at the games.”
He also emphasized emphatically that in spite of the thrilling nature of the sport, safety is paramount. “I think it’s important to establish that while high diving is inherently dangerous, these athletes are not just chasing adrenaline. While adrenaline is a side effect of what we do, high divers are cold and calculated professionals, working diligently to ensure they perform their maneuvers safely.”
Along with high diving training, the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex is home to the legendary Fort Lauderdale Diving Team. Under the leadership of renowned Head Coach and Director of Diving, Dave Burgering, it is a premier springboard and platform diving team at the forefront of training for all diving disciplines.
With its state-of-the-art facilities, the team can accommodate divers on every level, including high school, college, Junior National, Senior National, Olympic, and high diving. Visiting athletes from around the country and the world are invited to come and train here.
The Fort Lauderdale Diving Team has a rich history, having won an unprecedented 23 United States National Team Championship Titles from 1991-1997. The team boasts an impressive list of divers who were Olympians and National Champions during their time as members. Click the link here to view Fort Lauderdale Diving Team’s storied roster of champions.
The future looks promising for the next generation of divers as well. Fort Lauderdale Diving Team’s James Boardman is a 3-time Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) State Champion from Fort Lauderdale High School. He was named 2025 Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) Cadet of the Year, and has earned an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Boardman is also a junior-level high diver for Team USA. On the girls’ side, Hayden Ferenc will be a senior this year at Fort Lauderdale High and has committed to dive for Alabama in the fall of 2026.
With its storied past and a bright future ahead, Coach LoBue concluded, “Diving in Fort Lauderdale has a historic record of excellence at all levels and I am truly honored to be a part of its success as an athlete and coach.”
ABOUT ELIZABETH SPENCER ROSENTHAL
Elizabeth Spencer Rosenthal is a wife and mother of 3 from Miami. She is a passionate swim mom, volunteer and meet official, with a professional background in marketing and public relations. She holds a degree in Public Communication from American University, and loves finding a story to tell.
WOW! Ms Rosenthal does it again! Keep it up! Article. fun, informative, personal in that we get to hear directly from the athlets and coaches! It’s a win/win! Thanks and keep writing!