The same pool where Olympic divers will compete in 2028 is now the starting point for Pasadena children who have never touched a springboard.
The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center announced Thursday that its diving team has received a 2026 USA Diving Developmental Grant, the second consecutive year of national funding for its Breaking Barriers Dive Grant program. The initiative removes financial barriers for youth interested in competitive diving by offering free introductory sessions and covering costs for those who continue with the sport.
“This program is about more than diving, it’s about opening doors,” said Melanie Sauer, executive director of the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center. “By removing financial barriers, we’re creating pathways for local youth to build confidence, discipline, and belonging.”
The grant will fund six free Learn to Dive Days in 2026, each a 90-minute session introducing children to the fundamentals of springboard diving. Youth who qualify for continued participation will receive financial support covering USA Diving memberships and event registration fees, according to the organization.
In its first year, the program served 91 students from across Los Angeles, according to head diving coach Jean Luc Miralda.
“We served 91 students from across Los Angeles, proving that talent is everywhere,” Miralda said. “This second year allows us to deepen our reach and expand access for even more families.”
The program is a collaboration between USA Diving, the Rose Bowl Diving Boosters, and RBAC’s Financial Assistance Program. The USA Diving Developmental Grant is funded by the Anthony Taylor Foundation for Aquatic Sports and Fitness and provides up to $10,000 for returning recipients, according to USA Diving.
The announcement comes as RBAC prepares for a historic role: In September 2025, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved the facility as the venue for Olympic diving at the 2028 Games. The center itself was built with surplus funds from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
“As we prepare to play a role in hosting Olympic diving, it’s critical that the impact reaches our Pasadena community and that kids here can see themselves in the future of the sport,” Sauer said.
RBAC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that opened in 1990, has long served as an equity hub for aquatic instruction in Pasadena. For 26 years, the center has provided free swimming lessons to every third-grade student in the Pasadena Unified School District through its Water Safety Program.
The Breaking Barriers Dive Grant extends that mission to competitive diving, a sport where equipment, coaching, and competition fees often place participation out of reach for many families.
Families interested in the program can contact head diving coach Jean Luc Miralda at jmiralda@rosebowlaquatics.
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