Vincent Riendeau earns breakout bronze in 10m platform, Abel and Ware medal in 3m synchro to cap FINA Grand Prix - Rostock
Vincent Riendeau earns breakout bronze in 10m platform, Abel and Ware medal in 3m synchro to cap FINA Grand Prix - Rostock
ROSTOCK, GERMANY, Jan. 31, 2016 – Vincent Riendeau (Montreal, QC) punctuated a breakout weekend for Canadian male divers, taking the bronze medal in men's 10-metre platform at the FINA Grand Prix Rostock 2016.
The 19-year-old nudged China's 17-year-old Tai Xiaohu off the podium, completing the Canadian men's best Grand Prix meet since the Alexandre Despatie years. They medalled in all four events, helping Canada earn seven overall (1G-3S-3B). Riendeau and 18-year-old Philippe Gagné (Montreal, QC) each earned an individual bronze and collaborated for the silver n 10m synchro. The result is a good omen ahead of the Feb. 19-24 FINA Diving World Cup in Rio de Janeiro.
“This whole weekend is really big – it's one of our best Grand Prix's,” said Riendeau, a Pan Am Games medallist who is coached by Yihua Li at Pointe-Claire Diving Club. “We had two gold medals in the Canada Cup before but didn't medal in all four. Normally the women have the upper hand in Canada, but we proved last year that the men are up and coming as well and we hope to be there for the Olympics as well. We're going to try to be at the top.
“We came here trying to achieve good points and good scores and came away with a little bit more,” Riendeau added. “Hopefully we can reproduce that in the World Cup and get some [Olympic] spots open for Canada.”
Riendeau had 464.25 points. Xiaohu finished with 464.10. Armenia's Vladimir Harutyunyan missed his final dive and finished fifth with 445.25.
Riendeau received 85.80 for his armstand back 3 somersaults, 87.45 for back 3½ somersaults and 86.70 for reverse 3½ somersaults. Riendeau received a score of 76.80 for an inward 3½ on his last dive.
“What made me consistent today was the mental aspect,” Riendeau said. “I stayed in the same pattern, routine for the prelims, semifinals and final.”
China's Yang Jian (523.40) won gold and France's Benjamin Auffret (512.70) earned silver. Maxim Bouchard (Montreal, QC) finished ninth after scoring 397.10 points in the semifinal.
Jennifer Abel (Montreal, QC) and Pamela Ware (Greenfield Park, QC) earned the women's 3m synchro bronze with 285.24 points. China's Chen Jiayu and He Xiaojie (314.40) and the Netherlands' Uschi Freitag and Inge Jansen (299.10) had the 1-2 finish.
Abel and Ware had 4.0 and 4.5 scores on their back 2½ somersaults and on their signature finisher, the forward 2½ somersaults 2 twists.
“Our goal was probably to be first,” Abel, 24, said. “In general, it was a good first competition of the season. We're going to go back in Montreal and train more together. We know how to do that [back 2½] dive, and hopefully those mistakes won't happen again.
“Individually, the forward 2½ was over, which was a good sign,” Abel added. “Better over than short.”
For complete results: http://www.springertag-rostock.de
