Six Canadian divers to compete at World Championships
OTTAWA, June 22, 2022 – The 2022 FINA World Championships, the biggest competition outside of the Olympic Games, are underway in Budapest. The diving events will take place from June 26th to July 3rd, with finals held every day at the Duna Arena.
To get you prepped, here’s what you should know about divers Margo Erlam, Caeli McKay, Mia Vallée, Bryden Hattie, Rylan Wiens and Nathan Zsombor-Murray, who were selected to compete at the championships based on their performances at the 2022 Winter National Championships (April 8-10) and the Summer National Championships (May 27-29). Canadian viewers will be able to follow the action through CBC Sports’ coverage of the event and daily web stream.
Caeli McKay Is Back
After taking a pass on competing at the 2022 FINA Diving Grand Prix in Calgary to train and prepare for worlds, Caeli McKay will be back at the top of the tower on June 26th, 11 months after her last international event: the women’s 10m synchro final at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This time, McKay will have the opportunity to showcase her ability in the individual 10m event.
Zsombor-Murray’s Homecoming
Nathan Zsombor-Murray, who is of Hungarian descent, was only 14 years old when he took part in his first senior international event: the 2017 edition of the FINA World Championships, which were also held in Budapest. Competing alongside veteran Meaghan Benfeito in the mixed 10m synchronized event, Zsombor-Murray was the youngest athlete in the competition. Fast forward five years later, he is now a regular on the senior international scene and a Tokyo 2020 Olympian. Zsombor-Murray arrives in Budapest this time with a new synchro partner: Rylan Wiens.
A Dynamic Duo
With the retirement of team veteran Vincent Riendeau, Canada was needing a new synchro pairing on men’s 10m platform. A gold medal finish at the 2022 FINA Diving Grand Prix in Calgary (May 9-12) seems to indicate that Zsombor-Murray and Wiens have what it takes to shine on the international scene.
Rylan Wiens is a Tokyo 2020 Olympian and a 2021 FINA World Cup bronze medallist. Budapest will mark his first appearance at a world championships.
New Faces on Women’s 3m
The retirement of ten-time world championship medallist Jennifer Abel left the door wide open for younger divers to make their way on to the Canadian team. Margo Erlam and Mia Vallée have seized the opportunity by respectively winning the women’s 3m title at the winter and summer national championships, qualifying for their first senior worlds.
The two divers will also join forces in the women’s 3m synchronized event. The pair has already won two gold medals together in their first season as a team.
Hattie: From Platform to Springboard
The FINA World Championships are nothing new for Bryden Hattie, a 2018 Youth Olympian. Hattie placed 20th on 10m at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, however, recently, he has transitioned from being a platform diver to a springboard diver. The 20-year-old earned his place on the Budapest team by winning the 1m and 3m titles at the 2022 Summer National Championships in Victoria.
| Name | Hometown | Event(s) | Schedule |
| Caeli McKay | Calgary, AB | 10m individual | June 26 – 6h EST – prelims June 27 – 13h EST – finals* |
| Margo Erlam | Calgary, AB | 1m individual | June 29 – 4h EST – prelims June 29 – 11h EST – finals* |
| 3m individual | July 1 – 4h EST – prelims July 2 – 13h EST – finals* | ||
| 3m synchro | July 3 – 5h EST – prelims July 3 – 9h EST – finals* | ||
| Mia Vallée | Beaconsfield, QC | 1m individual | June 29 – 4h EST – prelims June 29 – 11h EST – finals* |
| 3m individual | July 1 – 4h EST – prelims July 2 – 13h EST – finals* | ||
| 3m synchro | July 3 – 5h EST – prelims July 3 – 9h EST – finals* | ||
| Bryden Hattie | Victoria, BC | 1m individual | June 30 – 6h EST – prelims June 30 – 11h EST – finals* |
| 3m individual | June 27 – 3h EST – prelims June 28 – 10h EST – finals* | ||
| Rylan Wiens | Saskatoon, SK | 10m individual | July 2 – 4h EST – prelims July 3 – 11 EST – finals* |
| 10m synchro | June 28 – 4h EST – prelims June 28 – 13h EST – finals* | ||
| Nathan Zsombor-Murray | Pointe-Claire, QC | 10m individual | July 2 – 4h EST – prelims July 3 – 11 EST – finals* |
| 10m synchro | June 28 – 4h EST – prelims June 28 – 13h EST – finals* |
*Pending qualification
Mary Carroll (Saskatoon, SK) and Yihua Li (Pointe-Claire, QC) will be coaching the team in Budapest while Barb Bush (Calgary, AB) has been appointed to the judging roster by FINA.
A detailed schedule is available through FINA’s website.
About Diving Plongeon Canada
Diving 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. 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