Sophie Verzyl Wins 1-Meter Gold at Junior Pan American Games

Sophie Verzyl won gold in women’s 1-meter Monday at the Junior Pan American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay.

Verzyl scored 270.40 points to edge Mexico’s Mia Cueva, who took silver with 267.95 points. Lia Cueva was third at 261.45, and USA’s Anna Kwong finished fourth with 253.20 points. Verzyl and Kwong took the silver medal behind the Cueva twins in Saturday’s synchronized 3-meter contest.

Verzyl’s gold medal earned her an automatic qualification to the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

Verzyl put forth a solid list in the 1-meter final, including a reverse 2 ½ tuck that earned 61.50 points for the highest scoring dive in the contest. Her front 2 ½ pike earned 57.20 points, and she had two other dives score more than 50 points.  

Kwong was the only other diver with a dive scoring more than 60 points in the final, with her inward 2 ½ tuck receiving 60.45 points.

In the men’s 10-meter final, Grant Cates scored 376.65 points to finish seventh. Andrew Bennett placed ninth with 345.85 points. Mexico’s Kenny Zamudio scored 467.75 points for gold, with Canada’s Benjamin Tessier at 463.40 for silver. Cuba’s Carlos Ramos took bronze at 454.45.

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 events at the Junior Pan American Games wrap up Tuesday with men’s and women’s 3-meter individual finals and men’s and women’s synchronized 10-meter finals.