Thach Mai and Bélanger first winners at 2018 Summer Nationals
GATINEAU, Que. – Peter Thach Mai and Éloise Bélanger, both of Montreal, opened the 2018 Speedo Summer Nationals diving competition with victories on Friday on men’s three-metre and women’s one-metre respectively.
On men’s three-metre, Thach Mai earned 8.5’s and 9.0’s on his reverse dive en route to the gold with 433.05 points. Victor Povzner of Maple, Ont., took the silver at 408.00 and Henry McKay of Ottawa was third at 403.00.
‘’It went better than expected in the final after a rough prelims,’’ said Thach Mai, second after the morning preliminaries. ‘’I was able to refocus for the final and I just wanted to go out there and do my best and not get rattled whether it went good or bad.’’
Povzner and McKay were just back from the world junior championships that ended on Sunday in Ukraine. They won gold in the three-metre synchro in Kiev.
On women’s one-metre, Bélanger delivered a faultless performance for the gold medal with 283.05 points. Aimee Wilson of Calgary was second at 273.10 and Mia Vallée of Beaconsfield, Que., third at 250.45.
‘’The small elements that were missing in the prelims were there in the final,’’ said Bélanger, who successfully defended here title. ‘’I had more power in my legs and more height on my take –offs. That made the difference in the final.’’
Competition continues through to Sunday.