Diving Canada – Canada’s divers launched their Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games with a podium finish on Wednesday. 

Meaghan Benfeito, 29, and Caeli McKay, 18, won a silver medal in the women’s 10m synchro platform with one of their best performances of the season.

Their score of 312.12 points eclipses their totals from the first two Diving World Series events, in Beijing, China and Fuji, Japan, back in March.

“This is really special for me, it’s our first Games together and one of our most successful events, I think we’re both really, really pleased,” said McKay, from Calgary.

The Canadians were sandwiched by two Malaysian teams. 

Jun Hoong Cheong and Pandelela Rinong Pamg won the gold medal with 328.08 points, while Mun Yee Leong and Nur Dhabitah Sabri finished third with 308.16 points.

“I’m really happy, we were talking before the event and we said that we just want to have fun and really enjoy what we do because at practice we have so much fun,” said Benfeito, from Montreal. 

Benfeito, a three-time Olympic medallist, was Canada’s opening ceremony flag-bearer.

She and McKay are in their second season diving together, after Benfeito’s previous partner, Roseline Filion, retired following Rio 2016.

“We don’t have that much time left until Tokyo (2020) so it’s going to be important to just focus on having fun,” said Benfeito.     

The divers, accustomed to indoor facilities, were challenged by the wind and outdoor elements at the Optus Aquatic Centre.

“At night is better than during the day, at nighttime it feels like you’re at an indoor pool, minus the wind, today wasn’t so bad so it was good, it wasn’t too cold,” said Benfeito, “It’s fun, it’s a challenge and everybody’s in the same boat.”

Jennifer Abel, of Laval, Que., and Mélissa Citrini-Beaulieu, of St. Constant, Que., finished fifth in the women’s 3m synchro springboard.

Abel, 26, says she made a technical mistake on their fourth dive.

“I’m really disappointed, I’m not going to lie, we had a really good start unfortunately I did a big mistake,” said Abel. 

“I’m happy on how we approached the competition, it was really hard this week, for Mélissa and I to adjust ourselves, but unfortunately it was not a good day for us.”

The second day of competition in Australia features Olympians Philippe Gagné and François Imbeau-Dulac in the men’s 3m springboard.

Benfeito and McKay will be back at work in the women’s 10m platform, joined by teammate Celina Toth.

Full results: https://results.gc2018.com/en/diving/daily-schedule-date=2018-04-11.htm 

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For more information:

Maelle Dancause
Manager, Communications
Diving Plongeon Canada
C: 514-475-4540 | maelle@diving.ca