Diving Canada – SANTIAGO, Chile – Sara Lupa of Beamsville, Ont., and Isa Koop of Edmonton took gold and bronze in the  11 and under three-metre to highlight a six-medal day for Canadian divers to open the Pan American Junior Championships.

Tatiana Conn of Markham, Ont., and Katelyn Fung of London, Ont., were second and third on girls 14-15 platform while silver medals were also won by Thomas Ciprik of Baie-d’Urfe, Que., in the men’s 16-18 three-metre and  Loic Tremblay of Quebec City in the boys 12-13 three-metre

 

In the girls 11 and under three-metre, Lupa earned 243.75 points for the gold with Kayla Jensen of the U.S. second at 229.60 and Koop third at 221.20.

 

‘’It was just an awesome feeling to get first,’’ said Lupa, in her international debut. ‘’I was really nervous about this event. But I tried to  look at what I did at nationals and use it to help me here. I want to one day go to the Olympics and I’m pushing myself to hopefully get there.’’

 

Koop was also at her first international event.

 

‘’It was amazing,’’ she said. ‘’I’m so happy to get this experience with my teammates.’’

 

Maria Jose Sanchez Moreno of Mexico won the girls 14-15 platform with 367.25 followed by Conn at 322.90 and Fung at 318.65.

 

‘’It definitely wasn’t my best performance,’’ said Conn. ‘’But I’m still happy with my silver medal.’’

 

Fung also felt she could have fared better.

 

‘’I know there is still room to improve,’’ she said. ‘’I was glad I had a strong compulsory list but I need the optionals to be more consistent.’’

 

In the men’s 16-18 three-metre, Tyler Downs of the U.S. took gold with 527.60, followed by Ciprik at 495.20 and Kawan Figueiredo Pereira of Brazil at 487.60.

 

‘’I didn’t feel great in the warm-up and it took me a bit of time to get into the competition,’’ said Ciprik, 16. ‘’It wasn’t my greatest competition for sure but they were also judging quite hard. I didn’t make any huge mistakes and that’s what kept me ahead of some tough competition.’’

 

Cédric Fofana of Quebec City was 12th.

 

In the boys 12-13 three-metre, Emilio Trevino Laureano of Mexico was the victor with 332.40 followed by Tremblay at 319.25 and Bennett Greene of the U.S. third at 316.75.

 

‘’I dove well and kept focused,’’ said Tremblay. ‘’The big dive for me was scoring well on my back two and half. It’s the one that always stresses me out. This is a good confidence boost for my upcoming events. I know what to expect now.’’

 

Other Canadian results:

• Margo Erlam of Saskatoon and Mélodie Leclerc of Montreal were fourth and ninth in the women’s 16-18 one-metre.

 

• Benjamin Tessier of Blainville, Que., was ninth in the  boys 14-15 one-metre. 

 

Competition continues through to Sunday.

Full results: Competencias de Clavados