February 22, 2023 – Eight Canadian divers will compete in the first international competition of the year in Leon, Mexico. At the Pan Am Qualifying Championships they will be looking to earn quota spots for the country in various events that will be contested at the 2023 Pan Am Games in Santiago this October. 

On the women’s side, Canada will be represented by Margo Erlam and Pamela Ware on the 1 m and 3 m springboards. 

Erlam, of Saskatoon, competed last season at the World Championships in Budapest and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The 20-year-old won the bronze medal in the 3m synchro event at the Commonwealth Games along with her partner Mia Vallée. 

Two Olympic experiences, Pan-American Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, World Series, Grand Prix: Pamela Ware’s list of achievements is well rounded. The Quebecer (Greenfield Park) is one of the veterans of Canadian diving. 

On tower, Renée Batalla and Éloïse Bélanger will be wearing Canada’s colors. 

Only 17 years old, Batalla had her first experience on the senior international scene last summer. After winning the 2022 Summer Nationals, the Victoria diver competed in her first Grand Prix and Commonwealth Games. At the World Junior Championships, she won the silver medal in the 10 m event. 

Montreal’s Eloise Bélanger is the reigning  national champion on 10 m. The 28-year-old diver has a wealth of experience on the Grand Prix circuit. 

On the men’s side, Alberta’s Thomas Ciprick and Quebec’s Cedric Fofana will be in action on 3 m. 

Last season, Fofana competed in several international events, including the Commonwealth Games. In 2021, at only 17 years old, he qualified for the Canadian Olympic team and competed at the Tokyo Games.

Ciprick, who now trains in Pointe-Claire, has competed at several Grand Prix events and a Diving World Cup. 

On the platform, Nathan Zsombor-Murray (Pointe-Claire) and Rylan Wiens (Saskatoon) will be representing the country. Both members of the Canadian team for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, they made history last summer by winning Canada’s first medal in the men’s 10m synchro event at the World Championships.

The event is presented over three days, with the preliminaries and finals of each event taking place on the same day.

Schedule: 

Friday, February 24, 2023: 

– Men’s 1m

– Women’s 10m

Saturday, February 25, 2023: 

– Women’s 1 m

– Men’s 3 m

Sunday, February 25, 2023: 

– Men’s 10 m

– Women’s 3 m

For the complete schedule and to watch the events live: https://guanajuato2023.panamaquaticsevents.com/en/.

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 www.diving.ca.

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Information:

Alexandra Piché

Communications Manager

Diving Plongeon Canada

alexandra@diving.ca