Dunedin’s springboard and platform diving club, Diving Ōtākou, sent five divers to represent Otago at the Diving New Zealand North Island Championships in Wellington over the first weekend in March.

Three of the five divers are Otago Boys’ High School junior students. All three boys had an excellent first competition for the year and achieved personal best scores. Emir Erkinov (Yr 9) who had been selected for the Diving New Zealand International Squad for 2019, competed in the 12-13 years Boys Age Group events. Rohan Leckie-Zaharic (Yr 10) competed in the 14-15 years Boys Age Group events, also having been selected for the Diving New Zealand International Squad. Rohan achieved a gold medal in each of his three events (1 Metre, 3 Metre and Platform). Theo Smith (Yr 10) was selected for the International + Squad for 2019 and competed in the Junior Elite Boys (14-15 years) categories and achieved third placings in all three of his events (1 Metre, 3 Metre and Platform). Theo also competed in the Boys 14-18 years synchronised event (with Filip Larsson from Auckland) receiving a silver medal. Both Rohan and Theo are the youngest competitors in their respective categories.

The boys are currently training hard for the upcoming Diving New Zealand National Open and Junior Elite Championship and will be leaving for Auckland on the 4th of April.