U.S. High Divers Win Gold at American Cup
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – U.S. high divers took gold in both the men’s and women’s competition at the American Cup on Sunday. 2025 world champion James Lichtenstein topped the men’s field, and Lisa Faulkner finished atop the women’s standings.
Lichtenstein finished with 451.35 points to claim the men’s gold. Canadian Charles-Antoine Labadie took silver at 348.85, finishing a half point ahead of bronze medalist Gary Hunt of France.
In Saturday’s second round, Lichtenstein performed an armstand back 4 ½ somersault from 27-meter that earned three 10s and totaled 162.40 points. In Sunday’s final round, he earned another 10 and came through with 129.85 points on a back quadruple somersault.
USA’s James Boardman finished fourth with 334.30 points, and Nate Jimerson scored 299.60 for fifth. Tanner Lange tallied 237.40 points for seventh.
Faulker won the women’s gold with 342.30 points. Ginni Van Katwijk of the Netherlands scored 317.50 for silver, and Morgane Herculano of Switzerland finished third at 310.60.
Faulkner was second after Saturday’s first two rounds. Her back triple somersault with two twists on Sunday earned 111.80 points to lift her to the top of the standings.
USA’s Kaylea Arnett took fourth with 299.40 points, followed by Emily Halliburton with 278.95 for sixth. Meili Carpenter scored 246.95 for eighth, and Maya Kelly finished 11th at 224.65.
The men dove from 15, 20 and 27-meters, while the women competed from 15 and 20-meters.
High diving will return to Fort Lauderdale in May, when the U.S. hosts the World Aquatics High Diving World Cup and the World Aquatics Junior High Diving Championships from May 15-17.
