In a heartwarming celebration of love and athletic achievement, gay teen divers Max Linan and Matteo Santoro just marked their one-year anniversary as boyfriends—right before competing in the World Aquatics Championships.
The couple, who are 19 and 18 respectively, shared their anniversary joy on social media with a sweet series of photos, including a candid shot of them holding hands under the table and sporting matching bracelets.
Max, representing Spain, and Matteo, diving for Italy, are set to compete in individual springboard events this month in Singapore, where the championships are taking place.
Linan will compete in the 1-meter springboard, while Santoro is entered in the 3-meter, mixed 3-meter, and 10-meter team events.
Outside of the pool, the two are clearly making waves in another way—by being visible, affectionate, and confident in their relationship at a young age in the world of elite sports.
Santoro’s anniversary post earned 11 heart emojis from Matteo himself and even drew support from teammate Chiara Pellacani, who is also Matteo’s springboard synchro partner.
Speaking to World Aquatics, Max confirmed the relationship and their identities as gay boyfriends, which only adds to their significance as young LGBTQ+ role models in the world of sports.
Both divers have impressive records in international competition.
Max has taken home two bronze medals at the Diving Grand Prix, while Matteo’s medal cabinet includes three golds at the World Junior Championships, two silvers and a bronze at the World Championships, a silver and bronze from the Diving World Cup, and a bronze from the European Championships.
Matteo was especially proud of his silver medal win in 2024 in the mixed synchro event with Pellacani at the world championships in Doha.
“It’s beautiful, this medal, it’s insane,” he told reporters.
“We are really good friends, almost like brother and sister. So it’s perfect.”
Though it remains to be seen whether Linan and Santoro will reach the towering heights of out diving legends like Greg Louganis, Tom Daley, or Matthew Mitcham, their presence and pride are already making a powerful splash.
In a sport with a rich history of queer visibility, the story of Max and Matteo stands out not just for their skill but for their courage, affection, and authenticity—setting the bar beautifully high for the next generation.