Fernando Henderson

A native of the Dominican Republic, he was only 17 when he represented the country at the 1984 Olympics.

After Henderson moved to Canada (Nepean) in 1992 ,he continued to dive while beginning his coaching career. He subsequently qualified – but did not compete – for the Dominican Republic at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Henderson became head coach at the Nepean-Ottawa Diving Club in 2001 and has led countless divers to university scholarships.

That group includes, but is not limited to, four-time City of Ottawa Divers of the Year Jamie Bissett, Henry McKay and Kate Miller.

Among other accomplishments, Bissett won two senior national titles and multiple NCAA titles diving for Purdue; McKay won a gold medal at the World Championships after winning medals at every Junior National age group from D to A. Miller partnered with Quebec City’s Sonya Palkhivala to win gold at the 2022 world junior championship in the synchronized diving competition. In 2023, Miller won her first silver medal at the World Aquatics diving World Cup Super Finals in the 10 m synchro diving with Olympian Caeli McKay.

Fernando Henderson has seen life with the Nepean Ottawa Diving Club as both a diver and a coach for the past 30 years, serving as a mentor for the youngest to the most experienced divers and junior coaches, instilling and inspiring confidence for their futures both in and outside of the diving world.