Courtesy: FINA Press
The team of Canada shone at home, during the first leg of the FINA/CNSG Diving World Series, staged in Montreal on February 28-March 1, by earning six gold medals out of the 10 finals of the competition. Russia won three titles and Great Britain left with one victory.
The Canadian supremacy was evident in the women’s events, where all four gold medals went for the local heroes. Jennifer Abel controlled operations in the 3m springboard, both in the individual and synchro (where she paired with Melissa Citrini Beaulieu), while her teammate Meaghan Benfeito ruled in the 10m platform (in the synchro final, she performed for gold with Caeli McKay).
In the women’s field, Russia (two silver in the individual events) was also consistent, with Australia, Malaysia and Mexico completing the list of countries with medals.
Among men, things were more balanced, with three nations getting gold in Montreal. In the 3m springboard, Philippe Gagné won the fight against Jack Laugher (GBR, silver), but in the 10m platform Noah Willians, from Great Britain, gave the sole title to his country, comfortably beating silver medallist Viktor Minibaev (RUS). In synchro action, the Russian divers were the strongest of the field, with two victories: Evgenii Kuznetsov/Nikita Shleikher in the 3m, and Minibaev/Aleksandr Bondar prevailing in the higher board. Mexico and United States also medalled among men.
In the mixed events, Canada and Russia share the two titles at stake, with the locals triumphing in the 3m (François Imbeau-Dulac/Jennifer Abel) and the Europeans winning in the 10m (Viktor Minibaev/Ekaterina Beliaeva). Great Britain (namely thanks to Tom Daley, silver in the 3m with Grace Reid) and Mexico also earned medals in these events.
After this first stop in Canada, the FINA/CNSG Diving World Series will resume in Kazan (RUS) on March 20-22 and then conclude in London (GBR) in March 27-29.
Medallists in Montreal (CAN):
Men
3m springboard: 1. Philippe Gagné (CAN), 471.30; 2. Jack Laugher (GBR), 431.05; 3. Mike Hixon (USA), 425.65
10m platform: 1. Noah Williams (GBR), 493.35; 2. Viktor Minibaev (RUS), 472.65; 3. Aleksandr Bondar (RUS), 468.10
3m springboard synchro: 1. Evgenii Kuznetsov/Nikita Shleikher (RUS), 421.95; 2. Jack Laugher/Daniel Goodfellow (GBR), 415.74; 3. Yahel Castillo/Juan Manuel Celaya (MEX), 407.22
10m platform synchro: 1. Viktor Minibaev/Aleksandr Bondar (RUS), 412.44; 2. Kevin Berlin/Ivan Garcia (MEX), 407.94; 3. Nathan Zsombor-Murray/Vincent Riendeau (CAN), 407.76
Women
3m springboard: 1. Jennifer Abel (CAN), 363.00; 2. Mariia Poliakova (RUS), 320.25; 3. Anabelle Smith (AUS), 317.25
10m platform: 1. Meaghan Benfeito (CAN), 355.10; 2. Iuliia Timoshinina (RUS), 347.40; 3. Pandelela Pamg (MAS), 337.55
3m springboard synchro: 1. Jennifer Abel/Melissa Citrini Beaulieu (CAN), 298.83; 2. Melany Hernandez/Paola Espinosa (MEX), 286.20; 3. Kristina Ilinykh/Mariia Poliakova (RUS), 285.60
10m platform synchro: 1. Meaghan Benfeito/Caeli McKay (CAN), 313.02; Pandelela Pamg/Mun Yee Leong (MAS), 297.66; 3. Iuliia Timoshinina/Ekaterina Beliaeva (RUS), 288.30
Mixed
3m springboard synchro: 1. François Imbeau-Dulac/Jennifer Abel (CAN), 314.52; 2. Grace Reid/Thomas Daley (GBR), 309.57; 3. Osmar Olvera/Dolores Hernandez (MEX), 283.20
10m platform synchro: 1. Viktor Minibaev/Ekaterina Beliaeva (RUS), 315.96; 2. Jose Balleza/Maria Jose Sanchez (MEX), 311.10; 3. Caeli McKay/Vincent Riendeau (CAN), 306.54
2020 FINA/CNSG Diving World Series calendar:
1. Montreal (CAN) – February 28-March 1
2. Kazan (RUS) – March 20-22
3. London (GBR) – March 27-29