2024 will be a big year for athletes around the globe, with many setting their sites on the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. This includes olympic hopefuls here in Southern California, more than a few swimmers and divers with the Mission Viejo Nadadores. On the diving side of the Blue and Gold, Grayson Campbell and David Colturi will start this journey with the upcoming World Aquatics World Championships in Doha, Qatar this coming February. Campbell will represent USA Diving in the men’s 3m springboard individual event, and Colturi will be repping the stars and stripes from the 27m platform in the men’s high diving event.
“In the hunt for an Olympic berth this summer.”
While Campbell is a very decorated Junior Olympic and NCAA diver, winning 13 Junior National titles, 6 Junior PanAm medals, and 5 NCAA All American honors, this will be his first appearance at a World Aquatics World Championships. He expressed his excitement saying, “I’m stoked, and really looking forward to this opportunity and getting back on the international stage. This will be my first international event since 2018, and I’m excited to get back.” After a two year hiatus from diving post graduating from the University of Texas, Campbell joined the Nadadores in August of 2023. In just four months he was able to not only get his competitive list back, but exceed expectations and finish in second place at USA Diving’s Winter Nationals, and only 1.4 points from the gold medal. To say that Campbell is back is an understatement, and it’s not far fetched at all to say he’s one of the top divers in the hunt for an Olympic berth this summer.
“Starting 2024 off strong.”
In the High Diving world, David Colturi, is a familiar face, and this will be his sixth World Championships since the inaugural event in 2013 in Barcelona, Spain. He earned his place on this year’s World Champs team just last month in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the CAN-AM-MEX High Diving Invitational, which also served as USA Diving’s qualifying event to select their team going to Doha. “It was a great way to finish out the year,” said Colturi after a second place finish in Fort Lauderdale. He continued, “It’s been a difficult season, more competitive and more depth than any before. While the winter is usually our off season, I’m looking forward to this unique World Championships during the Olympic year, and starting 2024 off strong.”
It is unusual to have a World Championships during an Olympic year; however, World Aquatics is still catching up from missed events and rescheduling the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. After this World Championships in Doha, the biennial World Championships should return to its normal scheduling, one year after and one year before the summer Olympics Games.
“A testament to the program, the tradition of excellence, and what’s capable for the elite athletes that train here.”
The Nadadores Head Coach and High Performance Director, John Appleman, is proud of the duo and not surprised two Mission Viejo representatives are on the World Championships team. When asked about Campbell and Colturi, he said, “They’re both absolutely phenomenal, and it’s a testament to their hard work and dedication they’ve put in for a lot of years.” He also complimented the Nadadores facility, coaching staff, and program, saying, “It’s also a testament to the program, the tradition of excellence, and what’s capable for the elite athletes that train here.”
While both Campbell and Colturi took some personal time to celebrate the holidays with their families, you can bet they ate less Christmas cookies than the average bear. They’re both back at work and committed to an arduous, disciplined program leading up to the event. Campbell has a few more weeks at home, and Colturi hits the road this week for a training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. From there he’ll head to Auckland, New Zealand for a Red Bull Cliff Diving competition, then join his Nadador teammate in Qatar. All eyes will be on this unique World Championships, as it’s a last chance qualifier for many who hope to earn spots for the Olympic Games in Paris.
