Woodside native Anna Lemkin on the verge of greatness

The youngest competitor in the field of 28, Lemkin advanced to the finals Sunday, June 22, where she finished in eighth place in the women’s 10-meter platform with a cumulative score of 513.10 points. The top two finishers — 25-year-old Delaney Schnell (first-place, 638.00) and 20-year-old Daryn Wright (second, 596.35) — are headed to Paris with spots on the US Olympic diving team.

“I think I’m just excited to move forward and keep chasing my dreams, and keep chasing my goals,” Lemkin said. “Obviously I want to be on that Olympic team in 2028, so I’m going to do everything I can to get there.”

Lemkin said she didn’t have her best competition. Making the top-12 cut, though, proved a glimpse of her potential. She has yet to win a championship on the senior diving circuit but was coming off her seventh career title on the junior circuit at the TYR Junior Americas Cup held May 23-26 in Mission Viejo.

She earned two previous championships representing the Mission Viejo Nadadores — the same diving club for which four-time Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis competed — first at the 2022 Junior World Championships in the 3-meter springboard, then in the synchronized platform with Taylor Fox at 2023 Junior World Championships.

Lemkin’s performance in Knoxville was just a glimpse of her world-class potential, Nadadores elite/high performance director John Appleman said.

“She did well,” Appleman said. “I think she was battling some nerves while she was there. And it’s a big stage. That’s why I wanted to get some of these junior athletes experience at the Olympic trials, because it’s unlike any event they’re going to compete in. ... Because hopefully, in the next Olympic quad in 2028, they’re in a position to go out and earn an Olympic berth.”

Committed to Stanford, where she is set to begin school in the fall, Lemkin will live on campus, where she will be close to home. Growing up in Woodside, she started with gymnastics at age 6 at Bayshore Elite Gymnastics in Redwood City. It was immediately clear the young Lemkin had a knack for thrill-seeking sports.

“I love it,” Lemkin said. “I just loved flipping and being in the air and all that.”

Two years later, she tried diving — a natural transition with a softer landing. When she was 11, she dedicated fulltime to the board.

“I knew I had to choose and just followed my heart and decided to follow diving, and have never looked back since,” Lemkin said.

Lemkin attended Nueva School in San Mateo her first two years of high school, but all that time had a lifeline to Mission Viejo. During the summer of 2020 following her eighth-grade year, Lemkin relocated to Southern California to train with the Mission Viejo Nadadores during the COVID pandemic. It was one of the few athletics facilities in the nation to operate during the thick of COVID quarantines, reopening at the start of May 2020.

As a junior, she left Nueva to attend Stanford Online High School and relocated to compete with the Nadadores. As a senior, she enrolled at Mission Viejo High School to pursue her dream — and with good reason.

“She is probably one of the most talented divers I’ve ever worked with I my life,” Appleman said.

That’s saying something. Appleman’s divers have produced 60 junior championships — two of them belonging to Lemkin — and six senior championships. He has coached several Olympians, including gold medalist in women’s platform at the 2000 Sydney Games, Laura Wilkinson.

“I think Anna has a long career ahead of her,” Appleman said. “If she continues to dive past college, I think she can go to 2036. … I think it’s very plausible. ... She can be one of the world’s best divers going to the next Olympics and stay at that range for the next Olympics (after that).”

Lemkin did enjoy a respite from diving after graduating in May. Earning her diploma entailed a rigorous schedule. As a senior, she enrolled in a zero period in order to be done with her school days by 11 a.m. She then spent three days a week at the pool enduring four-hour training sessions, and two days a week training for two-and-a-half hours.

“Just enjoyed being a normal kid for that part of [graduation],” Lemkin said. “Then after that was over, just working to put myself in the best position I can to get ready for Olympic trials.”

Lemkin also went globetrotting prior to graduation, competing at the World Aquatics Diving World Championships held in Montreal in March. Then in May, she competed in the Canada Cup of Diving in Calgary, teaming with Fox to take the silver medal in synchronized 10-meter, and fourth place in individual 10-meter.

While Lemkin was underwhelmed by her performance at the Olympic trials in Knoxville, she saved her best dive for last with back 2 1/2 somersault, 1 1/2 twist. It was a thing of beauty.

“Although I didn’t have my best competition, it felt good to have a dive that really showcased what I’m capable of,” Lemkin said. “… It was a cool feeling, even though I wasn’t happy with my performance altogether.”

Appleman said Lemkin is still a couple years away from realizing her peak. Her long lines and graceful form are undeniable, though. Aplleman said her aptitude is what may ultimately put her on the map contending for a 2028 Olympic spot, as well as potentially for several Olympic cycles beyond.

“Seeing her form, seeing her technique, seeing her ability to make corrections … stylistically she has some of the best form of any diver in the country,” Appleman said. “She’s 17 years old. It’s just a matter of putting some of those traits together.”

CORRECTION: The original content of this article contained an error. The content has been edited to state Anna Lemkin has won seven junior national championships.