Colombian diving team overcame earthquake and traveled to World Championships

The Colombian junior diving team, originally from Valle del Cauca, set aside the devastation caused by the August 10 earthquake to travel to the World Diving Championships in Rijeka, Croatia. Despite the earthquake's destruction of their training pools and the loss of many lives, the team's determination remained strong. Six of the eleven divers were from Valle del Cauca, a region particularly hard-hit by the disaster.

The team's future seemed uncertain after the earthquake, which also damaged the training facilities in Cali. However, the Colombian Swimming Federation and the athletes' families intervened, relocating the Valle del Cauca delegation to Medellin to ensure their participation in the event. The move was crucial, as the Valle del Cauca athletes were key to the team's lineup, which otherwise would have been significantly reduced.

The coaching staff, the federation, and the families collaborated to move the team, preserving their qualification efforts from the National Interleague Championship. Coach Oscar Urrea expressed the team's resilience, noting their ability to resume training and mental recovery in Medellin. The team, now comprising eleven members, embarked on their journey to Croatia, aiming to compete for medals, especially from Luciana Pinedo, who had achieved notable marks in national competitions.