This week marks the annual National Careers Week. Diving Australia is celebrating by speaking with National Squad member Jaxon Bowshire on his career path outside of competitive sport. 

After making his first senior Australian team at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, South Australian platform diver Jaxon Bowshire announced that he would be joining the Texas A&M University diving team in 2024. 

Moving overseas to Texas in early August to study Aerospace Engineering, the university experience will allow Jaxon to pursue his dream of becoming a Formula 1 Engineer while continuing to dive competitively. 

“I am both excited and nervous about heading overseas. It will be a huge change for me!” said Jaxon. 
 
“I will be going from living at home with my family to living by myself, in a new country at a new school with new coaches and training partners. I’m definitely going to miss everyone but I am really looking forward to the challenge.”

The four year degree will be an important step forward in Jaxon’s career aspirations. 

“The best path to be an aerodynamicist is to become an Aerospace or Mechanical Engineer while taking part in “formula teams” which is a worldwide organisation that allows students to design and race their own formula cars against other universities around the world,” explained Jaxon. 

“I have loved motorsport for as long as I can remember. It always seemed logical to find a way to be a part of the sport and the mechanical and aerodynamics were of interest to me.”

Texas A&M University ‘Aggies’ diving team competes regularly in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) , a prospect which Jaxon is excited for. 

“I am excited to join the Aggies and be a part of a large team. I love the idea of being able to compete as regularly as they do in the NCAA program and I am really looking forward to representing Texas A&M.”

“I also believe that the coaches at Texas A&M Jay Lerew and Jeff Bro will allow me to continue to improve like I have with Andy Banks at SASI.  

“I really think this experience will give me every chance to compete for Australia in the LA 2028 Olympics and hopefully many other events in between, whilst completing my degree.” 

Jaxon will be competing at the upcoming 2024 Australian Open Championships including Nomination Trials attempting to gain selection for Paris 2024. 

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