TORONTO, ON – On Tuesday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Diving Plongeon Canada announced the athletes nominated to represent Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games from July 10 to 26 in Scarborough, ON. The announcement was made at the top of the CN Tower in Horizons Restaurant after the athletes participated in the world famous EdgeWalk.
The roster was determined based on demonstrated ability to compete for medals on the international level and achieving scoring standards at pre-identified competitions including the 2015 Winter Senior National Championships, February 8-10, in Toronto, ON; the Canada Cup FINA Diving Grand Prix, April 8-12, in Gatineau QC; and the 2015 Summer Senior National Championships held May 8-10, in Victoria, BC.
The eight-member diving team is led by Canadian diving’s super quartet of women known as the “FAB IV”; athletes include Roseline Filion, Jennifer Abel, Meaghan Benfeito and Pamela Ware. Since the beginning of 2013, these four women have combined for a total 70 medals on the international stage in Olympic events. They have won medals at the FINA World Aquatic Championships, the FINA World Cup, the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the FINA Diving World Series, and on the FINA Diving Grand Prix circuit. Abel, Filion, and Benfeito are London 2012 Olympic bronze medallists who also stood on the podium at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara.
On the men’s side, a youthful but experienced group of athletes will join the FAB IV and compete in Toronto looking to build upon their international results. London 2012 Olympian François Imbeau-Dulac; double Youth Olympic Games medallist Philippe Gagné; 2014 Commonwealth Games medallist Vincent Riendeau; and four-time reigning national champion Maxim Bouchard have all earned nomination to the Pan Am Games Team.
Over the course of the 2015 season, these eight divers have collectively won 36 medals (8 gold, 16 silver, 12 bronze) for Canada at FINA-sanctioned events and are heading to Toronto with their sights set on more podium finishes.
Team Canada heads into the diving events as strong gold medal contenders in all of the women’s events, with their toughest challenge expected to come from the Mexican and American teams. The men will be competing for podium places as well, and will be up against some stiff competition from the American, Mexican, Cuban, Brazilian, and Colombian divers.
Canadian divers won four medals at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara; including two silver and two bronze.
The diving competition will take place at the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House from July 10-18 and there will be eight events: women’s 3m springboard; women’s 10m platform; women’s 3m synchro springboard; women’s 10m synchro platform; men’s 3m springboard; men’s 10m platform; men’s 3m synchro springboard; and men’s 10m synchro platform.
Canada will field the largest team in its Pan American Games history with over 700 athletes expected to be named to the Team at the Games in Toronto. With TORONTO 2015 providing a “Home Games” experience, as well as a number of qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, these Games will offer a tremendous experience for Canada’s high performance athletes.
Swimming news courtesy of Diving Plongeon Canada.
