Canadian Diving Team Named for 2022 Commonwealth Games

Ten divers have been chosen to represent Canada 

OTTAWA - (2022 - 06 - 27) - Commonwealth Sport Canada (CSC) and Diving Plongeon Canada (DPC) today announced the ten athletes who have been selected to represent Canada in diving at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. The diving competition will take place from August 4^th to 7^th at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre.

The Canadian divers were nominated based on their results from the 2022 Summer National Championships that took place May 27-29 in Victoria, British Columbia.

“The Commonwealth Games are happening at the ideal time for our young team this year and we’re expecting most of our divers to be close to delivering peak performances,” said Mitch Geller, Chief technical officer at DPC. “Some of our team members will have had the chance to warm up at the FINA World Championships starting this week in Budapest and we’re looking forward to being in a multi-sport Games environment as our younger team members prepare for Paris 2024.”

Amongst the team are Tokyo 2020 Olympians Caeli McKay (10m synchro), Celina Toth (10m), Cédric Fofana (3m), Rylan Wiens (10m) and Nathan Zsombor-Murray (10m, 10m synchro).

Four team members have also competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia: Caeli McKay, who won a silver medal on women’s 10m synchro, Celina Toth, Rylan Wiens and Bryden Hattie. Canada won six medals in diving in 2018 with one gold, four silver and one bronze medals. All diving results at the Commonwealth Games can be found online at diving.ca.

“Commonwealth Games was my first major games and one of the highlights of my career so far,” said Olympian Caeli McKay. “It’s one of the most fun events we can go too, but also a great experience for all competitors. I’m excited to have the opportunity to show all the work I’ve put in since I competed at the Olympics last summer.”

Meanwhile, Margo Erlam and Mia Vallée will be competing in their first multi-sport international event for Team Canada. They are both set to compete in the women’s 1m and 3m springboard events, as well as the 3m synchronized event. The pair already won two international gold medals in their first season as a team.

Junior national team members Renée Batalla and Benjamin Tessier are also newcomers on the senior international scene and have already demonstrated they have the ability to rub shoulders with the world’s best divers, having both won an international gold medal this season.

“Canada is a leading nation in diving at the Commonwealth Games,” says Scott Stevenson, Executive Director, Team Canada 2022. “With this group of veterans and up and comers, we anticipate the medal winning trend to continue at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre this summer.”

Birmingham 2022 will feature 19 sports and eight para-sports as part of its program with up to 4,500 athletes taking part. The Commonwealth Games are the only multi-sport event that feature equal standing for sport and para-sport events, and these 2022 Games will showcase the largest para-sport program ever. In addition, for the first time in its history, the Games will feature more medal events for women (135) than men (133). 

Here are the ten athletes that will represent Canada in diving at Birmingham 2022: 

Staff supporting the 2022 Commonwealth Games diving team include: 

ABOUT TEAM CANADA 2022 

The 2022 Commonwealth Games will be host to 71 participating nations and territories taking part in the Games. The Commonwealth Games are a valuable opportunity as a steppingstone and development opportunity for Canadian athletes, coaches, and managers working towards Olympic and Paralympic success. Canada’s performance projection in 2022 is a top 3 ranking, in total medals, amongst all nations and territories competing. Commonwealth athletes won 80%+ of Canada's medals at the 2020 Olympic Games 

Team Canada’s dedicated mission team will provide an optimal environment by celebrating equality, diversity, and non-discrimination. This is in support of our goals needed to enable a best ever performance by Canadian athletes at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. 

ABOUT DIVING 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. 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.

ABOUT COMMONWEALTH SPORT CANADA 

Commonwealth Sport Canada (CSC) is the franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth sport movement in Canada. CSC is an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community and supports Canada’s athletes to achieve excellence at Olympic, Paralympic Games, and world championships. The mission of CSC is to enrich the lives of youth across the Commonwealth and host the Commonwealth Games. CSC is responsible for all aspects of Canada’s participation in the XXII Commonwealth Games and will be sending a team of almost 400 of Canada’s best athletes and coaches to compete for Canada. The upcoming Games will occur in Birmingham, England from July 28 through to August 8, 2022. For additional information go to: www.commonwealthsport.ca. 

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For more information, please contact: 

Maelle Dancause
Communications Manager – Diving Plongeon Canada
Email: maelle@diving.ca 
514 475 4540

Nathan White
Team Canada Media Attaché – Diving
Email: nwhite@swimming.ca
613 866 7946

Patrick Kenny 
Communications Team Leader – Team Canada 2022
Email: patrick@commonwealthsport.ca 
613 724 7160