CANADA STORMS HIGH DIVING PODIUM!
Montréal, August 28, 2023 – Four Canadian divers were in Lima, Peru, for the PanAm Junior High Diving Championships, a competition presented for the first time ever as part of this athletic event. Canucks didn’t just show up in the Peruvian capital – they downright stormed the podium in various categories.
In the very last final of the weekend, Alex Tiaglei topped the podium in the Young Men’s A category with 294.93 points, putting an exclamation point on the weekend’s activities.
« I felt really good! I was a little nervous at the start of the competition, but I was still confident. My goal was to have fun, and clearly that was mission accomplished, as well as being able to finish on the top step of the podium! » Tiaglei noted.
Tiaglei wasn’t afraid to try out some new things at the PanAm Junior High Diving Championships, as he tried out dives that he was practicing earlier in the week a shot. In the end, it was a strategy that paid off.
« I did some excellent dives! I’m particularly proud of my reverse jump with three twists, especially because I only learned how to do it this week here in Lima. It’s stressful to learn new dives, but it’s very exciting to be able to try them out so quickly, » he added.
In the same category, Carter Baker took fourth place with a score of 248.15. He was bettered only by aforementioned teammate Tiaglei, and Brazilians Lucca Silveira Souza (262.67 points) and Miguel Cardoso (259.00 points).
Another young athlete who can say confidently say it was mission accomplished is Charles-Antoine Labadie, diving in the Young Men’s B category. The Quebecer was aiming for nothing less than a gold medal, which he achieved with flying colors, landing four solid dives to win the top spot.
« I’m super happy with my performance. My dives all went well, and I was able to make the small corrections my coaches noted for me. It was a great event, and it’s nice to have more and more high-dive competitions in international events like the PanAm Junior Championships. It’s a great opportunity for us, » Labadie enthused.
Labadie’s 300.60 points put him ahead of American athlete James Boardman (292.65 points), who settled for second, and Brazilian Gabriel Perdigao (262.97 points), third on the podium.
In junior women’s high diving, Kelly-Ann Tessier may have been the only athlete in the Young Women’s B category, but she nonetheless gave it everything she had. Tessier wanted to demonstrate what she was capable of, and she succeeded in fine style.
« My coaches gave me a lot of confidence, so I was able to put in a good performance. It was a great competition and I’m glad I took part. I wanted to be consistent throughout the day, and I’m proud to have achieved that goal, » commented Tessier.
Also in action in Lima late on Saturday, were Mathilde Laberge and Lila Stewart, who won bronze in the synchro event on 3m springboard in the Open category. Notably, this was Stewart’s third medal of the weekend, as she had already won silver in the Team event and bronze in the 1-Metre event.
Haven’t read about your favourite Canadian junior diver yet? Check out all of Team Canada’s results from this exciting and important event here (scroll down for English).
