Despatie, Heymans lead Canada into diving worlds
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 8, 2009 | 3:53 PM ET
CBC Sports
Canadian diver Émilie Heymans earned a silver medal in the 10-metre platform event during the 2008 Beijing Games. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)Olympic medallists Alexandre Despatie and Émilie Heymans will lead the Canadian squad into the upcoming FINA world aquatic championships, Diving Canada announced Monday.
Despatie, of Laval, Que., remains Canada's best chance for a medal in Rome for the July 17-25 event.
CBC's coverage begins Saturday July 19 (CBC Sports, CBCSports.ca, 5 p.m. ET).
Despatie will compete in the three-metre springboard, along with the three-metre synchro competition with partner Reuben Ross of Regina.
The Quebec diver won a silver medal in the three-metre event at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
A multiple-time Olympic and world medallist, Despatie's best showing at the world championships came during the 2005 competition, capturing gold in the three-metre event in front of his hometown fans in Montreal.
He also captured silver on the three-metre board and was second with partner Arturo Miranda in the three-metre synchronized event at the 2007 championships in Melbourne, Australia.
Despatie and Ross also broke the national senior record in the three-metre synchro two weeks ago at the 2009 Summer Senior National Championships in Quebec City — their first competition together.
Heymans, of St-Lambert, Que., is taking part in the women's three-metre springboard.
She earned a silver medal in the 10-metre platform during the Beijing Games, joining Caroline Brunet, Phil Edwards, Leslie Thompson-Willie and Karen Cockburn as the only Canadians to win at least three medals in three consecutive Olympics.
Heymans returned to action in May, taking silver in the three-metre springboard at the Canada Cup diving competition in Montreal.
