Kwong and Verzyl Win Synchro Silver at Junior Pan American Games

Anna Kwong and Sophie Verzyl won the silver medal in women’s synchronized 3-meter on Saturday, the first day of diving competition at the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay.

Kwong and Verzyl scored 274.50 points to finish second behind Mexico’s Lia Cueva and Mia Cueva, who won gold with 289.32 points. The Brazilian team of Maria Postiglione and Heloa Almeida finished with 222.36 for bronze. Kwong and Verzyl were in second place throughout the entire contest, with their best dives coming in rounds three and four when they scored 63.90 points on a back 2 ½ pike and 65.10 points on a front 3 ½ pike. The Cueva twins won the bronze medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore last month. 

Collier Dyer and Luke Hernandez both advanced to the men’s 1-meter final. Dyer scored 347.30 points for fifth, while Hernandez placed 10^th with 326.75 points. Cuba’s Frank Rosales won gold at 384.80, followed by Mexico’s David Vazquez with 373.50 points. Colombia’s Miguel Tovar took the bronze with 359.75 points.

ElliReese Niday and Hannah McLaughlin competed in Saturday’s women’s 10-meter preliminaries, and both advanced to Sunday’s final. Niday qualified first with 338.90 points in the prelims, with McLaughlin scoring 274.25 for sixth.

The Junior Pan American Games are a multi-sport event featuring more than 4,000 athletes from 41 countries in 28 sports. Divers must be 22 or younger to participate.

Diving competition at the Junior Pan American Games continues through Tuesday. Sunday’s schedule includes two finals – women’s individual 10-meter and men’s synchronized 3-meter – along with preliminaries in women’s 3-meter and men’s 10-meter.