On February 10, the diving tournament as part of the World Aquatics Championships, which is being held in Doha, the capital of Qatar, ended on a high note for the Ukrainian national diving team. Having won the first World Championships medal in the history of independent Ukraine in the 10m platform men’s individual event, Oleksii Sereda wrote his name on the list of world diving elites of our time.
We spoke with the Ukrainian national diving team leader immediately after the competition. We learned about Oleksii’s latest impressions from his performance at this World Championship, in particular, about the bronze medals in individual and synchronized events:
“For me, this bronze medal has become extremely important! In the previous three world championships, I could not win a medal in individual diving, but I finally managed to do it today. I am delighted. I scored a personal record in points, and the most important thing was that I did all the dives well, and there were no collapses this time, unlike the previous competitions. I took 3rd place thanks to this, leaving only two Chinese ahead. The competition was extreme: there were titled and more experienced Mexicans, the British, and the same Chinese, who also had a higher DD, much bigger than mine. In general, I cannot call my performance extremely successful, but I am delighted because I saw the result of my training progress, and now I know for sure that it was not in vain. All my effort, with whom I work in training – brings a positive result, making me very happy.” – Oleksii emotionally told about his first impressions immediately after the competition.
Recap of the FINA World Junior Diving Championships 2021
Nothing would happen without coaches
“I am grateful to all the coaching staff who helped me win this bronze award. Not only the athlete dives – but the coach also dives with the athlete. The coach worries more than the athlete. I am very grateful to the general and special physical training coaches, the choreographers, the gymnastics coaches, and all other specialists. I am especially grateful to Tamara Tokmachova, my personal coach, who tolerates all my whims, mood swings, etc. This is a lot of work because, for a coach, it is incredible suffering when you stand on the sidelines pool, and you can’t change anything. The coach has done everything possible to make the athlete perform the jump as best as possible. Without the coach’s help, I wouldn’t have participated in this World Championships. I also want to thank my first coach, Pohrebna Tetyana – she made a significant contribution to my formation, and in particular to this medal,” – shared Oleksii Sereda, the leader of Ukraine’s national diving team.
About medal in 10m men’s synchro
“Regarding the result in synchronized diving with my partner Kirill Bolyukh, I can say that I am also satisfied: we took bronze, we confirmed our status, and for me, this medal was proof that we are worthy of the silver award that we won last year in Japan at the World Championships. Now, with this bronze, we have confirmed the status of one of the best synchro duos in the world.” – added Oleksii.
About the role of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in any achievements of professional Ukrainian athletes
“I especially want to thank the Armed Forces of Ukraine, all the guys who defend our country at the frontline: thanks to them, we have the opportunity to train in relative safety, by the way, at the best possible training base, and in perfect conditions, thanks to Ihor Lysov, the president of the Ukrainian Diving Federation. I cannot but dedicate my award to the Armed Forces because they do much more than we do. Unlike athletes, the guys who defend our country risk their lives; they have something to lose. An athlete is simply doing his job: if we lose – nothing happens to us, we continue to train. There is no such opportunity in the Armed Forces — huge respect for all military personnel. I have several acquaintances and friends who are also in the ranks of the Armed Forces, and I can’t even imagine how difficult it is. To understand all the horror of war is unreal, and this has been happening for almost two years on the territory of Ukraine. Respect to all Ukrainian Forces. This victory is for YOU,” – said Oleksii Sereda, the two-time bronze medalist of the 2024 World Championships in Doha.
The opinion of a personal coach
“Oleksii performed a new diving program at these competitions. It was planned to present this program in 2022. Still, due to the war, the increasing recovery microcycles of training, and other various obstacles, it was possible to manage it and start to dive into this program only now. No one does not dive into a new competing program in the Olympic year, but this is how it turned out for us. The main goal for Oleksii in the individual was to show the sum of 500 points, which he managed, and as a result – we received a bronze award at the World Championships. Upon our return, we plan to continue training, increase the volume of practices, and we are going to prepare for the World Cup, which will be held from March 21 to 24 in Berlin.” – Oleksii Sereda’s personal coach, Tamara Tokmachova, commented on her athlete’s performance and shared her plans.
It is worth noting that at 18, Oleksii Sereda already has two silver and two bronze awards from the World Championships. Also, at 13, Oleksis became the youngest European diving champion, winning gold on the 10m men’s platform individually, thereby breaking the record of the legendary British diver Tom Daley, who at the age of 14 also became the European champion in 2008.
