Vincent Riendeau and Nathan Zsombor-Murray qualified for the Tokyo Olympics with a third-place finish in the men’s 10m synchronized event at the FINA Diving World Cup on Saturday. On the women’s side, Jennifer Abel and Mélissa Citrini-Beaulieu also found the podium at the Tatsumi Aquatics Centre finishing second in the 3m synchronized competition.
The FINA Diving World Cup is the final qualification and test event for the Olympic Games. Eight finals are scheduled at the World Cup: 3m and 10m platform individual and synchro for men and women. The Tatsumi Aquatics Centre in Tokyo will host 225 athletes from 46 countries, from May 1-6, 2021.
The Tatsumi Aquatics Centre will also host Olympic events this summer.
“It is a very good-looking pool,” said Abel (Laval, QC). “Obviously we would’ve liked to have more time here to really enjoy the pool and learn how to manage the boards. Due to Covid-19, we only had an hour per session in the pool so it was limited. But it is very nice, it is very big and I think it is one of the most beautiful pools that I have ever competed in.”
Riendeau (Beaconsfield, QC) and Zsombor-Murray (Pointe-Claire, QC) finished with a combined score of 393.81 edging out Ukraine’s Oleksii Serda and Oleh Serbin’s score of 393.54 to secure the bronze medal.
Riendeau credited previous virtual events for Saturday’s success.
“There was a lot of stress, obviously with our first competition in a year, but also a big one. Thankfully, we did a few virtual competitions before and that actually helped, I think,” Riendeau said. “For us, we got a chance to practice again what it was like diving with a bit of stress and a bit of adrenaline at home and I think that helped us today.”
Thomas Daley and Matthew Lee of Great Britain won gold with a combined score of 453.60 while Mexico’s Randal Willars Valdez and Ivan Garcia Navarro scored 405.69 for silver.
“I think pretty much everything was on par with what I wanted,” said Zsombor-Murray. “I was really consistent with all my dives in the prelims and final and I think if I had to fix one thing, back-and-reverse, if I can get the entries as well as I have my front entries, then I’d be set.”
Abel and Citrini-Beaulieu (Saint-Constant, QC) took home a silver medal with a combined score of 289.98.
“It felt great to keep our titles,” said Abel. “Melissa and I haven’t missed a podium since we partnered up in 2017 so being second after a year-and-a-half of not competing, it really means a lot and we’re looking forward to being here at the Olympic Games.”
Yani Chang and Yiwen Chen of China took gold with a score of 317.16 while Italy’s Chiara Pellacani and Elena Bertocchi won bronze scoring 283.77.
“I think we were pretty confident from the start till the end,” Citrini-Beaulieu said. “It was better I think than what we expected competing for the first time after a year.”
The FINA Diving World Cup is organized under strict sanitary and health conditions and without spectators on the stands. For each event, up to 18 places are at stake, while each synchronized competition will select four teams (out of the total eight that will dive at the Games).
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. 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 in the world. For information, visit www.diving.ca.
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For more information:
Jeff Feeney
Director, Events and Communications
Diving Plongeon Canada
C: 613-668-9668 | jeff@diving.ca