Ottawa, April 6, 2022 –A few days before the start of the 2022 season, three-time Olympic medalist Meaghan Benfeito has announced her retirement from diving. At age 33, Benfeito concludes a decorated diving career that placed her on 124 international podiums and brought her unforgettable memories, including a bronze medal at the 2005 Montreal World Championships and two bronze medals at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. “After several months of reflection, it is now time for me to hang up my Speedo. I’m so proud of the career I’ve had and extremely grateful for what diving has brought to my life, but I’m finally ready to move on to the next chapter,” she said. “What’s to come for me is super exciting! I’ve always said I love kids and I recently had the opportunity to start working in a daycare centre with one of my sisters and it really confirmed everything. My next dream is to open my own daycare with my sisters. I’m going back to school in early childhood education, and I can’t wait.“ Benfeito expressed her desire to stay involved in diving, which has been the centre of her life for 25 years, in order to be there for young divers and remind them of the importance of having dreams.
“From the first time seeing Meaghan dive at the junior nationals as a 12-year-old, I knew we were witnessing something special. Her athleticism, her agility and her acrobatic prowess were immediately evident. But what elevates someone who is physically gifted, like Meaghan, from all others is a heightened ability to compete — and that’s what we saw from Meaghan time and time again. Her contribution to our sport is immeasurable because she set an example to all others of the value of focus and determination under times of great adversity. When nothing seemed to be going her way, she was able to turn the tables and pull out victories when no one thought it was possible. Meaghan’s perseverance throughout her long career has inspired countless young athletes. She is a true diving hero,” said DPC chief technical officer Mitch Geller. Since 2005, Meaghan has demonstrated several times that “hard work pays off and dreams do come true” by taking part in four Olympic Games, eight world championships, three Pan American Games and four Commonwealth Games, in addition to countless FINA competitions. In 2016, she became the first Canadian diver to win two Olympic Games medals since Anne Montminy. In 2018, she was the flag bearer for Team Canada at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, where she won two silver medals. She’s also a 2015 Pan Am Games and 2014 Commonwealth Games champion. Benfeito started diving at the age of 7, after discovering that her favorite thing during her swimming lessons was being allowed to jump on the diving boards. Seeing sports legends like Emilie Heymans in action greatly inspired her to embrace the sport. IN NUMBERS
Olympic Games (3 medals)
- Beijing 2008
- London 2012Bronze – 10m synchro (Filion)
- Rio 2016Bronze – 10m synchro (Filion)
- Bronze – 10m individual
- Tokyo 2020
- FINA World Championships (4 medals)Montreal 2005Bronze – 10m synchro (Filion)
- Melbourne 2007
- Rome 2009
- Shanghai 2011
- Barcelona 2013Silver – 10m synchro (Filion)
- Kazan 2015Silver – 10m synchro (Filion)
- Silver – 10m mixed synchro (Riendeau)
- Budapest 2017
- Gwangju 2019
- FINA World Cup (6 medals)Changsu 2006Bronze – 10m synchro (Filion)
- Changzou 2010Bronze – 10m synchro (Filion)
- London 2012Silver – 10m synchro (Filion)
- Shanghai 2014Bronze – 10m synchro (Filion)
- Wuhan 2018Bronze – 10m synchro (McKay)
- Tokyo 2021Gold – 10m synchro (McKay)
- Commonwealth Games (5 medals)Melbourne 2006Bronze – 10m synchro (Filion)
- Glasgow 2014Gold – 10m individual
- Gold – 10m synchro (Filion)
- Gold Coast 2018Silver – 10m individual
- Silver – 10m synchro (McKay)
- Pan American Games (7 medals)Rio 2007Bronze – 3m synchro (MacDonald)
- Guadalajara 2011Silver – 10m synchro (Filion)
- Bronze – 10m individual
- Toronto 2015Gold – 10m synchro (Filion)
- Bronze – 10m individual
- Lima 2019Gold – 10m individual
- Gold – 10m synchro (McKay)
- FINA Diving World Series (58 medals over ten years)
- FINA Diving Grand Prix (41 medals between 2005 and 2019)
About Diving Plongeon CanadaDiving Plongeon Canada (DPC) was established in 1967 as a not-for-profit organization to promote the growth and awareness of the sport in this country. As a member of FINA, the world’s governing body of aquatic sports, DPC contributes to the development of globally accepted standards of excellence in diving and supports the rules and regulations of international competition. Representing nine provincial diving associations, 67 local diving clubs and close to 4,000 high-performance athletes, DPC shares a national commitment to advance the art and sport of diving and to position Canada as the number one diving nation of the world. For information, visit diving.ca.
For more information:
Maelle Dancause
Manager, Communications
Diving Plongeon Canada
514-475-4540 | maelle@diving.ca
Interview requests may be directed to:
Sarah-Maude Boily
Coordonnatrice
La Boîte Simard Hébert
514-882-3293 | sarahmaude@laboitenathhebert.com