University of North Carolina Athletics
Aranza Vazquez Montano & Yadiel Gamboa
Photo by: Jerome M. Ibrahim
Ties That Bind: Aranza Vazquez Montano & Yaidel Gamboa
October 4, 2023 | Swimming & Diving
"What is it that binds us to this place as to no other? It is not the well, or the bell, or the stone walls. Or the crisp October nights or the memory of dogwoods blooming.
"Our love for this place is based on the fact that it is, as it was, meant to be, the university of the people." – Charles Kuralt.
Many things bind people together and create a special and unique bond. For UNC diving coach Yaidel Gamboa and senior diver Aranza Vazquez Montano, many things unite them, not the least of which is their Latinx heritage.
Gamboa was born and raised in Cuba and graduated from the University of Havana before he defected in search of a better life for himself and his family. He received asylum at the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela. Eventually, Gamboa made his way to the United States. He landed a job as a club coach in Orlando to begin his coaching career.
"During that time, I couldn't email, call or talk to anyone in my family because [the Cuban government] would know where I am," Gamboa said. "I stayed hidden for almost a year, and my family knew nothing about me.
"It was a risky decision, but that's what it took for me to get out of Cuba," Gamboa explained. "My motivation was always knowing that if I could succeed in this country and establish my life, I would be able to help my family."
Vazquez, an unknown diver from La Paz, Mexico, also sought an opportunity to come to the United States after she spent years training under the late Cuban diving coach Yuniesky Hernández, who coincidentally Gamboa knew very well.
Gamboa began recruiting Vazquez during his time as a diving coach at the University of Missouri after breaking into intercollegiate coaching at Florida Atlantic University.
"When I took the job at Missouri, I started contacting my coaching friends around the world looking for divers to come to the states," Gamboa said. "Yuniesky really wanted me to get in touch with Aranza. As soon as I saw her first video, I knew I needed to talk to her right away. I didn't want her to be floating around."
The connection between the Latino coach and athlete was instantaneous, and the transition between Cuban coaches was seamless.
"With us each being of Hispanic descent, that made things easier for her and her parents," Gamboa explained. "She was raised by that Cuban coach when she started the sport, so she was used to how we work and teach."
"I've had Cuban coaches my entire life," Vazquez said. "I know how they work and what they like about diving, attitude and other things. Having the background of practicing with Cuban coaches before really helped me [connect with him].
Vazquez quickly committed to Gamboa's coaching and followed him to UNC. She arrived in Chapel Hill during the 2021 spring semester.
"He was so energetic, wanted to do big stuff, and wanted me to train with him," Vazquez said. "From the beginning, he was a very welcoming person. I told him about my dreams and goals. I knew that I could trust him and felt comfortable with him."
Vazquez burst onto the scene at the 2021 NCAA Championships and finished second in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving competitions after she captured the gold medal on the platform and the 3-meter springboard at the ACC Championships while claiming the silver in the 1-meter springboard competition.
She was named 2021 ACC Diver of the Year and used the NCAA Championships as a springboard into the Tokyo Olympic games, becoming the first female Olympic diver in Carolina history.
That was just the beginning of her incredible championship career.
Two years later, Vazquez won the ACC triple crown of diving — the first for any diver since 2008 — with first-place finishes on the one and three-meter springboard and the platform.
Three weeks later, she became the first UNC diver to capture a national title, winning the 2023 NCAA Championship one-meter springboard competition with a score of 358.75, 18 points ahead of the runner-up diver.
Less than 24 hours after winning her first NCAA title, Vazquez took home another gold in the three-meter dive with a score of 385.80.
"[Gamboa] was the first person I went to and started crying," she said. "I was so excited and knew he felt the same excitement and happiness. I knew he was happy for me, and we worked together for that."
The connection between coach and athlete has been so strong that the youngest member of the Vazquez Montano family, Rodolfo, elected to join his sister in Chapel Hill and dive for the Tar Heels under the supervision of Gamboa this season.
Vazquez was named the 2023 College Swimming Coaches Association of America Division I Women's Diver of the Year, and Gamboa was named the CSCAA Division I Women's Diving Coach of the Year.
"Our love for this place is based on the fact that it is, as it was, meant to be, the university of the people." – Charles Kuralt.
Many things bind people together and create a special and unique bond. For UNC diving coach Yaidel Gamboa and senior diver Aranza Vazquez Montano, many things unite them, not the least of which is their Latinx heritage.
Gamboa was born and raised in Cuba and graduated from the University of Havana before he defected in search of a better life for himself and his family. He received asylum at the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela. Eventually, Gamboa made his way to the United States. He landed a job as a club coach in Orlando to begin his coaching career.
"During that time, I couldn't email, call or talk to anyone in my family because [the Cuban government] would know where I am," Gamboa said. "I stayed hidden for almost a year, and my family knew nothing about me.
"It was a risky decision, but that's what it took for me to get out of Cuba," Gamboa explained. "My motivation was always knowing that if I could succeed in this country and establish my life, I would be able to help my family."
Vazquez, an unknown diver from La Paz, Mexico, also sought an opportunity to come to the United States after she spent years training under the late Cuban diving coach Yuniesky Hernández, who coincidentally Gamboa knew very well.
Gamboa began recruiting Vazquez during his time as a diving coach at the University of Missouri after breaking into intercollegiate coaching at Florida Atlantic University.
"When I took the job at Missouri, I started contacting my coaching friends around the world looking for divers to come to the states," Gamboa said. "Yuniesky really wanted me to get in touch with Aranza. As soon as I saw her first video, I knew I needed to talk to her right away. I didn't want her to be floating around."
The connection between the Latino coach and athlete was instantaneous, and the transition between Cuban coaches was seamless.
"With us each being of Hispanic descent, that made things easier for her and her parents," Gamboa explained. "She was raised by that Cuban coach when she started the sport, so she was used to how we work and teach."
"I've had Cuban coaches my entire life," Vazquez said. "I know how they work and what they like about diving, attitude and other things. Having the background of practicing with Cuban coaches before really helped me [connect with him].
Vazquez quickly committed to Gamboa's coaching and followed him to UNC. She arrived in Chapel Hill during the 2021 spring semester.
"He was so energetic, wanted to do big stuff, and wanted me to train with him," Vazquez said. "From the beginning, he was a very welcoming person. I told him about my dreams and goals. I knew that I could trust him and felt comfortable with him."
Vazquez burst onto the scene at the 2021 NCAA Championships and finished second in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving competitions after she captured the gold medal on the platform and the 3-meter springboard at the ACC Championships while claiming the silver in the 1-meter springboard competition.
She was named 2021 ACC Diver of the Year and used the NCAA Championships as a springboard into the Tokyo Olympic games, becoming the first female Olympic diver in Carolina history.
That was just the beginning of her incredible championship career.
Two years later, Vazquez won the ACC triple crown of diving — the first for any diver since 2008 — with first-place finishes on the one and three-meter springboard and the platform.
Three weeks later, she became the first UNC diver to capture a national title, winning the 2023 NCAA Championship one-meter springboard competition with a score of 358.75, 18 points ahead of the runner-up diver.
Less than 24 hours after winning her first NCAA title, Vazquez took home another gold in the three-meter dive with a score of 385.80.
"[Gamboa] was the first person I went to and started crying," she said. "I was so excited and knew he felt the same excitement and happiness. I knew he was happy for me, and we worked together for that."
The connection between coach and athlete has been so strong that the youngest member of the Vazquez Montano family, Rodolfo, elected to join his sister in Chapel Hill and dive for the Tar Heels under the supervision of Gamboa this season.
Vazquez was named the 2023 College Swimming Coaches Association of America Division I Women's Diver of the Year, and Gamboa was named the CSCAA Division I Women's Diving Coach of the Year.
Players Mentioned
Diving
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