Meaghan Benfeito fourth in diving at FINA World Aquatic Championships

July 21st, 2011

Meaghan Benfeito

SHANGHAI – Meaghan Benfeito of   Montreal  came within less than two points from a podium berth and took fourth spot on women’s 10-metre tower in Thursday’s diving competition at the FINA World Aquatic Championships.

Chen Ruolin of   China  rallied to win the gold with 405.30 points. Her compatriot Hu Yadan overcame a mistake in the fourth round to land five perfect 10s on her final dive and claim the silver with 394.00. Defending champion Paola Espinosa of   Mexico  took the bronze with 377.15.

Benfeito delivered an exceptional performance earning at least 8.0’s on four of her five dives in the final.   She was in third spot after third round then climbed to second in the fourth with an exceptional armstand dive that scored 8.0’s and 8.5’s.

‘’It’s heartbreaking not to get on the podium,’’ said Benfeito.   ‘’I knew throughout the competition that I was contending for a medal.’’

Roseline Filion of Laval, Que., was eighth her best individual world championship result.

‘’I struggled with my take-off but I’m happy overall with the performance,’’ said Filion.

By reaching the final in Wednesday’s semis, Filion and Benfeito had locked up two spots for   Canada  in the event for next summer’s Olympics.

On men’s three-metre springboard, Reuben Ross of   Regina  and François Imbeau-Dulac of St-Lazare, Que., were 22nd  and 29th  respectively in preliminaries and did not advance.

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