US’ diver Carson Tyler and US’ diver Joshua Hedberg compete in the preliminary round of the men’s 10m platform synchronised diving event during the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on July 29, 2025. (Photo by François-Xavier MARIT / AFP) (Photo by FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT/AFP via Getty Images)
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Carson Tyler and Josh Hedberg took bronze in the synchronized platform at the 2025 World Diving Championships in Singapore, securing the first medal for the U.S. men in a decade. The last U.S. men’s medals at Worlds came in 2015 when David Boudia won platform silver and Michael Hixon earned 1m springboard bronze. The last time the U.S. men medaled in synchronized diving at Worlds was in 2009.
Cheng Zilong and Zhu Zifeng won gold in the men’s synchronized platform at the championships in Singapore, edging out the neutral athletes by less than a point. According to World Aquatics, China needed a score of 89.79 on their final dive to tie for the win. They nailed it and earned 90.72, taking the title by just 0.93 points.
China continued its diving dominance by sweeping all four men’s and women’s synchronized events for the fifth straight time. Diving dominance is nothing new for China. The country has won more Olympic gold medals in diving than any other nation, with the U.S. ranking second. At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, China won eight gold medals in diving. This performance was consistent with the previous Olympics in Tokyo, where they took gold in seven of eight diving events.
Despite China’s dominance, Tyler and Hedberg’s podium finish marks a significant breakthrough for the U.S. men’s diving team. Tyler previously won a bronze medal at the 2022 World Diving Championships in the mixed synchronized platform with partner Delaney Schnell. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, he became the first American man in 24 years to compete in both the individual springboard and platform events at a single Games. Although Tyler was the youngest competitor, he placed fourth in the men’s 3m springboard event.
Tyler, who is from Georgia, was a senior at Indiana University during the 2024-2025 college season. He is a five-time NCAA diving champion, including recent titles this season in the 3m springboard and platform. Indiana University has consistently produced Olympic divers, sending at least one athlete to every Games since 1964.
In fact, Hedberg will stay in-state and join Indiana University in the fall of 2025 to dive for the team. He won national titles this year in both the individual platform and synchronized platform at the 2025 USA Diving National Championships in May.
What’s Next In Diving At The 2025 World Championships
SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE – JULY 29: (L-R) Silver medalists Nikita Shleikher and Ruslan Ternovoi of Team Neutral Athletes B, Gold medalists Zilong Cheng and Zifeng Zhu of Team People’s Republic of China and Bronze medalists Joshua Hedberg and Carson Tyler of Team United States pose on the podium during the Men’s 10m Synchronised medal ceremony on day 19 of the Singapore 2025 World Aquatics Championships at OCBC Aquatic Centre on July 29, 2025 in Singapore. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
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The 2025 World Championships will continue through Sunday, August 3. For the men, the 3m springboard final is scheduled for Friday, August 1, while the 10m platform final will close out the competition on the last day.
So far, China’s Zheng Jiuyuan has won the men’s 1m springboard title. He also teamed up with Wang Zongyuan to take gold in the men’s 3m synchronized event.
China currently leads the diving medal count overall with 10 total medals: seven gold, one silver and two bronze. Australia follows with two medals, one gold and one silver. Italy ranks third with one gold and one bronze. The United States is in eighth place with one bronze medal.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/caseymurphy/2025/07/30/us-men-secure-first-diving-medal-at-worlds-since-2015/