June 3, 2018
Chamandy overcomes injury to win gold at Junior Elite Nationals
Diving Canada – WINNIPEG – A season-long shoulder injury wasn’t enough to stop Olivia Chamandy of Montreal as she won the gold medal on women’s 10-m platform Saturday at the Junior Elite Nationals diving competition
Chamandy totalled 423.35 points, which also met the standard for a berth on the world junior team, for the victory. Margo Erlam of Calgary was second at 409.95 and Mélodie Leclerc of Montreal was third at 395.65.
‘’I really wanted to just have a good competition and be happy about something this year,’’ said Chamandy. ‘’I really wanted to make the world junior team as well and get that score. The injury has been on and off the last few months but it didn’t bother me today.’’
In girls 14-15 age group, Tatiana Conn of Calgary completed a golden sweep of the three individual events with a victory on three-metre. She earned 411.75 to edge Romane Saito of Montreal second at 410.30 and Simone Leathead of Montreal third at 400.20.
‘’I never thought I would win all three boards,’’ said Conn, the platform and one-metre victor on Thursday and Friday. ‘’I wasn’t confident going into three-metre just because I haven’t had as much practice as on platform.’’
In the men’s 16-18 tower, Laurent Gosselin-Paradis of Montreal earned one perfect 10 en route to the gold and world junior team standard with a personal best 551.50. Bryden Hattie of Victoria took the silver at 534.20 and Carlo Lopez of Edmonton was third at 487.70.
‘’I couldn’t have asked for a better showing,’’ said Gosselin-Paradis. ‘’I did personal bests in both the prelims and final and really didn’t miss anything. I just kept the focus on myself and didn’t worry about the others.’’
Gosselin-Paradis notched his 10 on his armstand dive in the second round. He also received three 9.0’s, two 8.5’s and an 8.0.
Cedric Fofana collected a second individual win placing first in the 14-15 one-metre with 433.30. Mathieu Aubin of Montreal followed at 389.70 and Ben Smyth of Victoria was third at 346.60.
‘’It’s not an event I focus on as much as the others but I really wanted to get the win,’’ said Fofana, who lowered the Canadian age group record on Friday in his three-metre victory. ‘’When it came down to the last round I tried to not get too stressed and just worry about my dive.’’
Competition ends Sunday the Pan Am Pool.
Full results: Integrated Sports Systems Live Diving