Fiji has made history in diving, with Māori Pomeroy-Farrell winning the country’s first-ever medal at a World Aquatics World Championships.

Pomeroy-Farrell claimed bronze in the Boys’ 3-metre Springboard at the World Aquatics Junior Diving Championships in Rijeka, Croatia, scoring 490.50 points in the final. 

The result marks a major milestone not only for Pomeroy-Farrell, but for Fiji, which has traditionally been better known internationally for sports such as rugby.

The achievement comes three years after Pomeroy-Farrell made another piece of Fijian diving history.

In 2023, he became the first diver to represent Fiji at a World Aquatics Championships, competing at the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. 

Now, he has gone a step further by becoming the first Fijian to stand on a World Aquatics World Championships podium.

Pomeroy-Farrell has been developing his diving career in Mexico after moving there with his mother, Renata, from Canada in 2019.

His journey has required significant sacrifice from the family, with Renata previously explaining how they left Canada to give Māori the opportunity to train under some of Mexico’s leading diving coaches.

The young diver has also had to overcome challenges surrounding Fiji’s lack of an established diving pathway, with his family working with World Aquatics and sporting authorities to find a way for him to continue representing Fiji internationally.

Despite those hurdles, Pomeroy-Farrell has continued to compete and develop.

He has previously won medals at Copa Mexico, including bronze in the three-metre springboard in 2024 and a bronze and gold in 2025.

His latest achievement, however, carries an even greater significance.

Māori is not simply winning a medal for himself — he is creating a pathway for a sport that has had little representation in Fiji.

At the World Championships in 2023, he spoke about the significance of being the first to represent Fiji and the sacrifices made by his family to help him reach the international stage. 

He has paternal links to the province of Bua, in Vanua Levu, Fiji.

The World Aquatics Junior Diving Championships are being held in Rijeka, Croatia, from August 21 to 28, bringing together the world’s leading young divers.