Young Olympic hopeful Jaxon Bowshire shares his journey from young diver to Paris

He’s set to be as big as Kyle Chalmers and is about to head to the Paris Olympics. Here, Jaxon Bowshire shares his journey to being a diving sensation.

Jaxon with his sister Lacey.

Jaxon Bowshire is the South Australian diver on his way to the Paris Olympics. The 18 year old shares with SA Weekend how he went from unknown Adelaide schoolboy to diving sensation. And now’s he tipped to be as big as Kyle Chalmers.

Let’s start at the very beginning. Tell us a bit about your childhood?

Jaxon: Put simply, as a kid I was chaotic. I spent hours bouncing around on a trampoline and if something was able to be climbed on, I found a way. I was always outside and had to be doing something. I wasn’t one to sit still. I grew up in a variety of places. I was born in Adelaide while my parents lived in Gawler before we moved for dad’s work in finance to Perth, then Brisbane, then the Gold Coast – all by the time I was three. Finally in late 2012 we moved back to Adelaide again for dad’s work. My favourite things to do as a kid were watch cars, play the Wii and jump on the trampoline.

How did you get into diving? Did you know early that you wanted to do it professionally?

I followed my sister Lacey into any sport that she did because whatever she could do, I wanted to do better. She did swimming, so I did swimming. She went to gymnastics, so I went to gymnastics. She went to diving, so I went to diving. Then it stuck. She never changed sports so I never changed and I did my best to be better than her. I naively said that I was going to go to the Olympics after I won my first medal at age eight at nationals in 2015. I won bronze. But I never realised I wanted to do it professionally until around 2018 when I started doing elite junior diving.

Tell us about your family?

My family is great. Despite the sibling rivalry, my sister and I are extremely close and my mum and dad are awesome. Even my extended family are great. All hard workers, giving 100 per cent and always willing to help. They all support me at every twist and turn. In saying that, they won’t hesitate to tell me when I’m doing something stupid, but I wouldn’t change that for a second. I love my family and I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

And your pals? What are they thinking about you heading to the Olympics?

At first they didn’t really believe what I was saying and then they were just as excited as I was. They know how much went into my training and all about my other competitions and achievements, but I guess they were just as surprised as I was.

Diver Jaxon Bowshire has just been selected for the Olympics, pictured on June 20th, 2024, at the SA Aquatic Centre in Oaklands Park. Picture: Tom Huntley

Okay, what is the training schedule looking like right now?

The training schedule from now to the Olympics is pretty jam-packed, we head to Sydney for a short training camp and to be with the team, then we head to Southend in England so we can acclimate to the timezone and continue our competition prep before we head to Paris. As for diet, I eat pretty much everything in moderation, with the exception of milk and Milo (I may go a bit over the top). Not too much will change other than possibly a few more croissants. Usually I like to keep my diet the same so my body can compete at the same energy levels I train at.

Before a dive, do you have any rituals?

Every dive has its own process and thought pattern before I go, but one thing that stays consistent is that I tap my chamois on the railing twice before I walk to the end of the board. I don’t know when it started but it’s become a habit and now it feels wrong when I don’t.

Who is in the Jaxon squad of Paris supporters?

My immediate family and a couple of friends will be there in Paris when I compete, and then my extended family will be watching and cheering from home in Somerton Park, and in Port Augusta all the way to Hamilton Island in Queensland.

Diver Jaxon Bowshire has just been selected for the Olympics, pictured on June 20th, 2024, at the SA Aquatic Centre in Oaklands Park. Picture: Tom Huntley

How do you keep grounded as you head into the Games?

The Olympics are a massive deal that’s for sure, but when all is said and done I still do the same stuff everyone else does whether it’s doing the dishes or taking the bins out. It just so happens that I am really good at one particular thing which is diving.

Is there any sport star in particular you’d like to meet in Paris?

Honestly, I couldn’t say I want to meet any one person specifically but I’d like to meet as many people as I can while I’m there because I think that is what the Olympics are about. I have met Kyle Chalmers a few times here and there. I couldn’t say he has given me any advice, although I don’t think I have ever asked for any.

Last, but not least, sum up how you are feeling before your big Olympic debut?

At the moment I’m a little nervous, but also extremely excited. Despite the fact that it’s the Olympics, I am trying to treat this like it’s any other competition and hopefully that’ll help me compete the same.