THREE-TIME OLYMPIC MEDALLIST MEAGHAN BENFEITO ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM DIVING
A few days before the start of the 2022 season, three-time Olympic medalist Meaghan Benfeito has announced her retirement from diving. At age 33, Benfeito concludes a decorated diving career that placed her on 124 international podiums and brought her unforgettable memories, including a bronze medal at the 2005 Montreal World Championships and two bronze medals at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
“After several months of reflection, it is now time for me to hang up my Speedo. I’m so proud of the career I’ve had and extremely grateful for what diving has brought to my life, but I’m finally ready to move on to the next chapter,” she said.
“What’s to come for me is super exciting! I’ve always said I love kids and I recently had the opportunity to start working in a daycare centre with one of my sisters and it really confirmed everything. My next dream is to open my own daycare with my sisters. I’m going back to school in early childhood education, and I can’t wait. »
Benfeito expressed her desire to stay involved in diving, which has been the centre of her life for 25 years, in order to be there for young divers and remind them of the importance of having dreams.
(Photo credits: Paul Chiasson | Canadian Press)
“From the first time seeing Meaghan dive at the junior nationals as a 12-year-old, I knew we were witnessing something special. Her athleticism, her agility and her acrobatic prowess were immediately evident. But what elevates someone who is physically gifted, like Meaghan, from all others is a heightened ability to compete — and that’s what we saw from Meaghan time and time again. Her contribution to our sport is immeasurable because she set an example to all others of the value of focus and determination under times of great adversity. When nothing seemed to be going her way, she was able to turn the tables and pull out victories when no one thought it was possible. Meaghan’s perseverance throughout her long career has inspired countless young athletes. She is a true diving hero,” said DPC chief technical officer Mitch Geller.
Since 2005, Meaghan has demonstrated several times that “hard work pays off and dreams do come true” by taking part in four Olympic Games, eight world championships, three Pan American Games and four Commonwealth Games, in addition to countless FINA competitions.
In 2016, she became the first Canadian diver to win two Olympic Games medals since Anne Montminy. In 2018, she was the flag bearer for Team Canada at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, where she won two silver medals. She’s also a 2015 Pan Am Games and 2014 Commonwealth Games champion.
Benfeito started diving at the age of 7, after discovering that her favorite thing during her swimming lessons was being allowed to jump on the diving boards. Seeing sports legends like Emilie Heymans in action greatly inspired her to embrace the sport.
IN NUMBERS
+ 3 Olympic bronze medal
+ 4 World Championships podium
+ 6 World Cup medals
+ 5 Commonwealth Games medals
+ 7 Pan American Games medals
+ 58 World Series medals
+ 41 Grand Prix medals