Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Four Canadian athletes to watch at the Diving World Cup - Montreal 2023


 

Image Source: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

With the Centre Sportif du Parc Olympique fully renovated and ready to welcome athletes to the World Aquatics Diving World Cup in Montreal, Canada to the second stop of the 2023 tour, we thought it is time to check in on some of the top national team divers that look to be in the mix for medals.

 

Mia Vallée

3m/3m synchro (waiting for a confirmation for 3 m synchro)

Mia Vallée, 23, is definitely a young athlete to watch. The local representative made a breakthrough on the international scene last season. At her first experience at the World Aquatics World Championships, she made history becoming the first Canadian woman to win multiple individual medals in diving at a single World Championship. Her performances resulted in a bronze medal in the 1 m event and a silver medal in the 3 m event. She has also medaled at Grands Prix and Commonwealth Games. She started 2023 by winning the national title on 1 m and 3 m.

 

Rylan Wiens

10m/10m synchro

Saskatchewan's Rylan Wiens started diving at the age of 6 and success has followed him ever since. He won his first junior medal at age 10. And from there, he has gone from strength to strength, winning medals at Grand Prix, World Cup, Nationals, Commonwealth Games and World Championships. He competed in his first Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021. At the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Rylan Wiens made history alongside his partner Nathan Zsombor-Murray. Together, they won a bronze medal in 10 m synchro, becoming the first Canadian men to reach the podium in this event.

 

Caeli McKay

10 m/10 m synchro

Originally from Calgary but now training in Montreal, Caeli McKay is one of the veterans of the Canadian team. The 23-year-old diver has won medals at the Pan American Games, Commonwealth Games, World Series, Grands Prix and World Cup, as well as competing at several World Championships. In 2021, she was able to dive at the Tokyo Olympics despite a major ankle injury. This past season, it took a lot of resilience and incredible strength of character for her to get back on track. She still managed to compete at the World Championships and win an individual medal at the Commonwealth Games.

 

Nathan Zsombor-Murray

10m/10m synchro

The host pool holds no secrets for Pointe-Claire native Nathan Zsombor-Murray. The 19-year-old began to distinguish himself at a very young age. At only 14 years old, he had his first experience at the World Championships, competing in the mixed 10m synchro with Meaghan Benfeito. He was the youngest athlete in the competition. Since then, he has reached the podium at Grand Prix, World Series, Panam Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships, where he and Rylan Wiens made history in 2022 by becoming the first Canadian men to medal in this event. In 2021, he had his first Olympic experience in Tokyo.

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