Matteo Santoro Makes History with Italy’s First Synchronized Diving World Title
At just 18 years old, rising diving star Matteo Santoro has etched his name into the record books. Competing at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Santoro captured gold in the 3-meter mixed synchronized springboard event alongside his teammate Chiara Pellacani. This milestone marks a significant moment for Italy — the nation’s first-ever gold medal in a synchronized diving event at the World Championships.
The talented Italian pair delivered an outstanding performance, beating out strong competition from Australia’s Cassiel Rousseau and Maddison Keeney, who earned silver. China’s Cheng Zilong and Li Yajie followed closely to claim the bronze medal.
A Personal Milestone — and a Public Love Story
Just days before his world championship win, Santoro shared another meaningful milestone: celebrating one year with his boyfriend, Spanish diver Max Linan. The couple made their relationship public, posting a touching anniversary message on Instagram. In an interview with Outsports, Linan confirmed that both he and Santoro are proudly open about their sexuality.
Linan is also competing in Singapore and placed 23rd out of 59 in the men’s 1-meter individual springboard. He also teamed up with Juan Cortes to finish 14th in the 3-meter synchronized event. Both Linan and Santoro are set to compete in the upcoming 3-meter individual springboard event.
Following Santoro’s gold medal win, Linan took to Instagram Stories to show his support, posting a heartfelt message adorned with a gold medal emoji and tears of joy — celebrating Santoro and Pellacani’s incredible achievement.
Santoro and Pellacani: A Dynamic Duo
Born in Rome, Santoro has long been recognized as a diving prodigy. His senior World Championships debut came in 2022 in Budapest, where he and Pellacani secured a silver medal. Over the years, the pair has proven to be a formidable team, collecting eight medals across various international events including the World Championships, European Championships, and European Games.
Their remarkable chemistry is often credited as a key to their success. “We’re like brother and sister,” Santoro once said of Pellacani. After claiming gold in Singapore, he reflected:
“I’m so happy. With Chiara, I feel at ease. I used breathing techniques to stay focused. Tomorrow I’ll compete in the individual 3-meter event, so I’ll celebrate tonight, but then it’s back to business.”
A New Beginning at the University of Miami
This August, Santoro is set to take the next step in his athletic and academic journey by enrolling at the University of Miami, where he will join the Miami Hurricanes swimming and diving team. He’ll be reunited with his long-time partner Pellacani, who already trains with the program.
“We know each other inside out, and that gives us a real advantage,” said Pellacani. “We understand each other’s diving techniques and share a strong bond. I’m thrilled that Matteo is coming to Miami — now we’ll be able to train together even more often.”
Carrying the Legacy of LGBTQ+ Diving Icons
Santoro’s success adds a new chapter to the legacy of openly LGBTQ+ athletes in diving. Trailblazers like American legend Greg Louganis, Australia’s Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham, British world champion Tom Daley, and synchronized diving gold medalist Mathew Helm have each carved out a place in sports history while living authentically.
Now, with both his outstanding talent and visible pride in his identity, Matteo Santoro is becoming a powerful role model for a new generation of LGBTQ+ athletes aspiring to make their mark in the sporting world.