Diving Canada Announces Team for the 2009 FINA World Aquatic Championships in Italy

May 19th, 2009

OTTAWA - Diving Plongeon Canada is pleased to announce its national team that will represent Canada at the 2009 FINA World Aquatics Championships scheduled for July 17-August 2 in Rome, Italy.

Canadian team members were selected following an evaluation camp held this past weekend in Montreal. 

“With seven out of ten members being 2008 Olympians, we have a very experienced international team at this year’s worlds,” says Diving Plongeon Canada High Performance Director Scott Cranham.  “Beijing silver medallists Alex Despatie and Emilie Heymans will be leading the way for Canada, and will be supported by fellow 2008 Olympians Jennifer Abel, Meaghan Benfeito, Roseline Filion, Riley McCormick and Reuben Ross."

The schedule and team member bios are available at: www.diving.ca .

Selections for the 1 m individual events and the remaining synchronized diving events will be made at a later date. Athletes selected for these events will be drawn from the World Championship team roster. The coaching staff will also be announced at a later date.

Since the first edition of the FINA World Aquatic Championships in 1973, Canadian divers have won 12 medals, including five gold, four silver and three bronze. Canada brought home three silver medals from the last world championships held in Melbourne, Australia in 2007:  Blythe Hartley on 1 m,  Alexandre Despatie on 3 m, and Despatie with Arturo Miranda in the 3m synchronized diving event.

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.

- 30 -