Filion and Benfeito win the Olympic bronze medal in 10-metre synchro

July 31, 2012  LONDON – Roseline Filion of Laval, Que., and Meaghan Benfeito of Montreal nailed their final twisting dive to assure themselves the bronze medal in the women’s 10-metre synchro event in diving action Tuesday at the Olympic Games.

It was Canada’s second medal in diving. On Sunday, Émilie Heymans and Jennifer Abel were third in three-metre synchro.

Ruolin Chen and Hao Wang of China took the gold with 368.40 points. Paola Espinosa and Alejandra Orozco of Mexico were second at 343.32.

Filion and Benfeito followed at 337.62 for their first career Olympic medal and the third time in four Games Canada has stepped on the podium in the event.

"We’ve worked so hard the last four years so it feels really wonderful to go out there and dive so well," said Benfeito. "I’m so pleased."

"I don’t think it’s hit me yet," added Filion. "We arrived here this morning and did everything we needed to do to be ready. We practiced and practiced and it was our turn."

The Canadians won the medal in dramatic fashion. They were the last divers in the draw and in the fifth and final round they needed to average 7.0’s too keep third spot. They averaged 8.6 from the judges and nearly snared the silver from Mexicans.

"I prefer diving last than first," said Benfeito, whose father was celebrating his 50th birthday on Tuesday. "It was difficult but the competition went well and we didn’t feel too nervous. We were able to keep calm. Everything went our way."

Annie Pelletier, who won a bronze medal for Canada in diving on this day 16 years ago, said on RDS she had watched all their practices since they landed in London and their final twisting dive in the competition was the best one they executed all week.

Filion and Benfeito joined forces in 2005 and made a spectacular entrance on the international scene winning the bronze medal that year in the 10-meter synchro at the world championships in Montreal.

They were also third at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, fourth at the 2007 worlds, seventh at the 2008 Olympics, fourth at the 2009 worlds and silver medallists at the FINA World Cup this past February.

Diving competition continues Wednesday with the men’s three-metre synchro. Alexandre Despatie of Laval and Reuben Ross of Regina will dive for Canada.

More information visit: www.diving.ca