When it comes to diving, coach Ilya Yunanov doesn’t just teach the sport—he lives it. A lifelong diver, Ilya’s journey into coaching began unexpectedly during the pandemic. What started as a light-hearted suggestion turned into a serious path when he accepted this coaching role. Within two years, he became a certified competitive coach, fully immersed in high-performance diving.

Now, he’s coaching with Revolution Diving and is the assistant coach for Team Manitoba, helping shape the next generation of divers. 

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A Day in the Life

Team Manitoba’s training is intense and carefully designed. They’ve built up to the Games, travelling throughout the province and the country, and are in peak competition season.

With 5-day training weeks, athletes spend about 3 hours a day rehearsing and training — starting with dryland, strength and flexibility before hitting the boards.

“This is high performance. Our athletes dream, think, breathe diving. Their lives are structured around it,” Yunanov explains.

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Mental Prep and Resilience

Diving demands the perfect combination of physical precision and mental resilience. Yunanov places a strong emphasis on preparing athletes to handle nerves, mistakes, and the high stakes of competition. He integrates Sport Manitoba’s specialists—nutritionists, strength coaches, and mental performance experts—right into their training plan, offering a holistic approach.

“When we announced the athletes who were selected for the training squad, many of them had already been working with these coaches and specialists, which is very good for them, to have someone they trust and they already know. There were no surprises and it was an easy transition,” Yunanov adds.

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The Next Step

For many of these young divers, the 2025 Canada Summer Games is their first taste of a big-stage competition. Ages 13-16, they’re stepping into a brand-new venue on equal footing with every other province.

“This is a completely new pool as well, nobody’s been there before so it’s a level playing field for everybody,” Yunanov shares. “I want them to get the most out of this experience. Learning to be responsible for themselves, adjusting to new environments, and enjoying every moment. It’s exciting!”

The real win for this coach and this team will be to see the athletes come away hungry for more, understand the bigger picture, and build confidence for the long term— in sport and in life.

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