SPRINGBOARD TO SUCCESS
Jennifer Abel’s third medal at the world aquatics championships in Budapest brings career haul to eight, the most ever by a female Canadian diver.
Laval’s Abel becomes country’s most decorated female diver ever at worlds
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY— Canada’s Jennifer Abel and Francois Imbeau-Dulac capped a recordbreaking performance at the world aquatics championships with a bronze medal in the mixed synchro three-metre event on Saturday, the final day of pool diving competition.
The pair reached the podium in every event they entered this season, including three silvers and a bronze in the elite Diving World Series. After earning her third medal of the worlds, though, Abel wanted more.
“We are really happy to be on the podium,” said the 25-year-old Abel, “but we also are not quite pleased with the colour of the medal.”
Abel, from Laval, Que., earned a bronze in individual springboard on Friday night and silver with Melissa Citrini-Beaulieu in threemetre synchro. Her eight career medals at the world championships are the most ever by a Canadian female diver, matching Alexandre Despatie’s men’s mark.
“She must be very proud,” said Imbeau-Dulac, of St. Lazare, Que. “I am so, so proud of her, and how the competition went for us.”
The Canadians combined for a score of 297.72, off their season best of 326.16 in March. China’s Han Wang and Zheng Li won, followed by Britain’s Grace Reid and Tom Daley.
The swimming competition, including Canadian Olympic sensation Penny Oleksiak, starts Sunday.
On Saturday, swimming’s governing body voted to rename synchronized swimming. Going forward, the sport known for glitter, gel and over-the-top pageantry will be known as artistic swimming.