At 17, Indiana Diver Makes History with 2 Back-to-Back US Olympic Diving Team Trials

An Indiana Diver can ‘grab the wheel and slam those things home,’ says coach Sean McCarthy. The Indiana International School of Diving student was barely in high school when he stunned judges during the 2021 swimming trials, scoring an impressive 804.50 points in the first two rounds of the 10m dive. Although he didn’t make the team then, it showcased his immense talent. 

Now at 17, Indiana diver Joshua Hedberg has etched his name into the history books by securing a spot in the US Olympic Diving Team Trials for the second consecutive time. He is back for another attempt to compete with 26-year-old Brandon Loschiavo, aiming for a spot in the Paris Olympics. This achievement showcases his talent and dedication, setting a new benchmark for young divers aspiring to reach the sport’s pinnacle.

Joshua Hedberg returns for a 2nd attempt at the Olympic team

In a recent X post by NBC Sports, they shared the incredible feat reached by diver Joshua Hedberg. They captioned the tweet expressing their admiration, “Joshua Hedberg has competed at two U.S. Olympic Trials and he’s only 17 YEARS OLD. 🤯 #DivingTrials2”. In the accompanying video, Hedberg is seen performing a dive for the US swimming trials in Indiana this year. 

Hedberg made the move from Belvedere to Noblesville to be closer to better swimming facilities. His journey began from when he was 7, training at the Boylan pool in Rockford. This is where he caught the attention of local coaches. During his 2021 trials, Joshua was placed 4th overall. He had earned a perfect score of 10 from one of the judges. This was awarded for his 31/2 inward tuck dive. It was the highest single-dive score of the competition. Hedberg secured second place in the event, trailing Miami’s Zachary Cooper, who claimed the gold medal with a total score of 839.85. The diving team trials do not follow the same pattern, the team is made after the overall performance of each diver is assessed. This is why we have to wait until 23rd June to know whether Hedberg has qualified. 

Joshua Hedberg’s future plans and aspirations in professional diving

Joshua Hedberg has made it clear that he wants to compete in the 2024 and 2028 Olympics. For this, he has taken up a strict regime of practicing 5 hours for 5 days per week. This level of commitment from such a young age has allowed him to win 8 Junior National titles. Hedberg secured first place in the 3-meter springboard event. In the 1-meter event, he placed second behind Fort Wayne’s Joshua Sollenberger, his teammate from the Indiana International School of Diving. “It means a lot,” Hedberg said in a phone interview after the championship, “I have been mostly on platform for Worlds, so I haven’t been training on springboard until the last few months. It felt good to show what I can do on the platform and springboard.”

He swept all three events in 2018 as well. He has already competed in several events spanning from Chile and Columbia to Arizona. In the 2019 Pan Ams in Santiago, he continued to show his prowess in the sport. Hedberg has made deliberate choices to secure admission to a reputable college. Attending Indiana Connections Academy affords him flexibility to excel in both diving and studies. His training base in Rockford, renowned for producing Olympians like Ron Merriott, underscores his commitment to athletic excellence. With his focused approach, Hedberg is poised to make well-informed decisions when selecting his college, ensuring he thrives in both the pool and academically. As he prepares for his future, including potential competitions and long-term goals, he remains dedicated to excelling in diving and academics, with sights set on the prestigious stage of the Paris Olympics.