Athlete Alumni

Jaxon Bowshire OLY

At the age of four, Jaxon was inspired to take up diving after watching his sister Lacey excel in the sport. Determined to match her skill level, Jaxon’s initial love for gymnastics seamlessly transitioned into diving, thanks in part to the access he had to dry land training facilities on the Gold Coast where Lacey trained. Under the watchful eye of cliff diver Steve Black, Jaxon received invaluable guidance and early training, which laid a strong foundation for his diving career. Later, when he moved to Adelaide, Jaxon began working with Duncan Roy, who played a pivotal role in his development. Jaxon credits Duncan with transforming him from a spirited young child into a committed and focused diver, expressing deep gratitude for the time and dedication Duncan invested in his growth and success.

Jaxon has earned significant milestones in his diving career by making his debut on the Australian Senior Team at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha. Following this achievement, he competed in the Olympic Trials Championships held in Adelaide in July 2024, where he successfully qualified for the Men’s 10m platform event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. During the Olympic event, Jaxon advanced past the preliminary rounds and ultimately placed 16th in the semi-final, marking a commendable performance on the world stage.

After the Paris 2024 Olympics, Jaxon embarked on a new chapter of his life by relocating to Texas, where he was awarded a prestigious scholarship to join the diving team at Texas A&M University. Alongside his athletic commitments, Jaxon is pursuing a degree in Aerospace Engineering. This opportunity not only advances his education but also allows him to continue honing his skills in a supportive and dynamic environment.

Rachel Dutschke (nee Bugg) OLY

Rachel began her diving journey in 2001 when she was just 11 years old, discovering a passion that would shape her life and career. The pinnacle of her achievements came with her participation in the Olympics, an experience that remains the highlight of her career. Throughout her time in the sport, Rachel has had many outstanding moments, but what she cherishes most are the friendships she has formed at state, national, and international levels. These connections have enriched her journey and provided invaluable support along the way.

Among Rachel’s favourite accomplishments are being a SASI scholarship holder and an AIS scholarship holder, which helped propel her training and development. She proudly represented the Australian Olympic team in 2012, as well as the Commonwealth Games team and the World Cup team in 2014. Over her career, Rachel has secured a remarkable ten international medals, a testament to her dedication and talent. Her favourite dive, the 5253D from the 10-meter platform, highlights her skill and finesse in the sport.

Today, Rachel channels her passion for diving into her work with DSA as the Performance and Pathways Lead, where she supports the next generation of athletes. Beyond her professional life, she is a devoted mother of two boys, balancing family and career with grace. Additionally, Rachel serves as the Chair of the Diving Australia Athlete Committee, continuing to advocate for athletes and contribute to the diving community she loves.

Macie Wheeler

Macie first started diving at the age of 6 after attending a DSA Come n Try session and has not
looked back since. Now after over 13 years of diving, Macie is a 7 times Junior National Champion,
winning another 7 minor medals at National Championships. She has the enviable record of
medalling at every National Junior Championships she has attended. She was recognised and
awarded National Female Junior Diver of the Year on 3 occasions and has also won over 25 State
Titles and holds numerous State Records.

In 2017 at the age of 12 Macie was awarded an Associate Scholarship with the South Australian Sports
Institute (SASl). In 2021, she went on to become a Full Scholarship holder and she was named on the
Diving Australia 2028 Dream Team that recognised Junior divers with the potential to go on to
achieve Olympic success.

Macie has had the honour of representing Australia on numerous occasions, competing twice at the
CAMO Invitational Championships in Montreal Canada, the Bergen Diving Open in Norway, twice at
the Dresden International Youth Diving Meet Germany, and in her first Senior team competing at the
FINA Diving Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. A highlight of her Junior career was gaining selection on the Australian Junior Team to compete at the 2022 World Junior Championships in Montreal Canada.

2024 sees Macie take her next major challenge, having accepted a Full Scholarship to the University
of Hawaii, Manoa, as part of their Swimming & Diving Program. Forthe next 5 years she will have the
opportunity to compete against divers in NCAA Division 1, while studying for a Masters Degree in
Speech Pathology.

Throughout her time in diving, Macie has always remained very humble in her achievements, and
her determination, work ethic and humility has proven her to be a role model for her peers and
younger South Australia divers. As Macie continues her diving career in Hawaii and Australia, she is
grateful for the opportunities diving has given her, the amazing people that have supported her and
will strive to always give back to the sport that has given her so much

Samuel Will

Sam began diving in 2012 at the age of 12, bringing with him a strong foundation from his previous experience in gymnastics and trampolining. Sam reflects that some of his favourite moments in diving include his time as team captain in 2016 and 2017, where he relished the opportunity to lead his team and contribute to their success. A standout highlight was helping his team secure victory in the 2016 State Team Challenge. Additionally, competing in the Tokyo Olympic trials in 2021 and the Paris Olympic trials in 2024 stands out as a significant achievement, marking the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.

At the 2024 Australian Open Nationals, which included the Olympic trials, he earned a notable 3rd place in the men’s 1m event. Another standout moment for him was winning 1st place on the 1m springboard at the 2017 Age Nationals, a victory that remains a personal favourite. Among his other accomplishments, Sam takes pride in having competed in a one-on-one dive against Scottish diver James Heatly, an Olympian and Commonwealth Games medallist.

On the 3m springboard, Sam loves to perform the 205B (back two and a half somersaults pike) and 5335D (reverse one and a half with two and a half twists) dives. His favourite board is the 1m springboard and enjoys performing 405C (inward two and a half somersaults tuck).

Sam is currently building a successful career as a mechanical engineer. In addition to his engineering role, he is actively involved with the diving community as a member of the board for Diving SA. This position allows him to contribute to the development and growth of the sport he loves, using his experience and insights to support and advance diving initiatives and programs within the organisation.