Benfeito and Filion win synchro gold at diving Grand Prix

March 1st, 2009

Roseline Filion & Meaghan Benfeito

ROSTOCK, Germany – Meaghan Benfeito of Montreal and Roseline Filion of Laval, Que., upset a Chinese pair to win the gold medal in the women’s 10-metre synchro event on Sunday to conclude the second stop on the FINA Grand Prix diving circuit.

It was the first international victory for the pair which has also won bronze at both the world championships and Commonwealth Games. It is also Filion’s second medal this weekend. She took silver on Friday on women’s individual 10-metre.

Benfeito and Filion totalled 312.30 points for the victory. Ni Chen and Lindan Deng of China, the leaders through three of the first five rounds followed at 300.36 and Nora Subschinski and Josephine Moller of Germany were third at 298.20.

On men’s 10-metre tower, Patrick Hausding of Germany was first at 505.10, Yang Liguang of China second at 480.00 and Yang Xiang of China third at 476.75.

Canadian Olympic team member Riley McCormick of Victoria was fifth at 444.50, the best international result of his career at the senior level.

The third stop on the circuit goes this Thursday to Sunday in Moscow.

About the FINA Grand Prix
Held since 1995, the FINA Grand Prix is similar in format to the World Cups in alpine skiing and speed skating. This season there are five stops, including the Canada Cup from April 30-May 3 in Montreal, Quebec.

About Diving Plongeon Canada
Diving Plongeon Canada (DPC) was established in 1967 as a not-for-profit organization to promote the growth and awareness of the sport in this country. As a member of FINA, the world’s governing body of aquatic sports, DPC contributes to the development of globally accepted standards of excellence in diving and supports the rules and regulations of international competition. Representing nine provincial diving associations, 67 local diving clubs and close to 4,000 high performance athletes, DPC shares a national commitment to advance the art and sport of diving and to position Canada as the number one diving nation of the world.  For information, visit www.diving.ca.

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