Canada has a tradition of sending a strong diving contingent to the Summer Olympics, and this year is no different. The female springboard divers who comprise the A and IV in the team’s FABIV (platform divers Roseline Filion and Meaghan Benfeito being the F and B) are Jennifer Abel and Pamela Ware. They each compete individually and also as a team in the sport’s synchronized event. And they took time out from their training ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games to talk to Sportsnet.
PAMELA WARE
Age: 23
Height: 5-3
Weight: 121 lb.
Hometown: Greenfield Park, Que.
Ware began diving in the synchronized three-metre springboard event with Abel following the retirement of Abel’s former partner, Émilie Heymans in 2012. Ware and Abel won the bronze medal at the 2013 world championships—Ware also took home the bronze in the individual springboard that year. The pair won silver together at the 2015 worlds. Ware enters her first Olympics ranked 10th in the world individually; she and Abel are currently in the No. 4 spot in the synchronized three-metre springboard event.
What are you most looking forward to in Rio?
Representing Canada and finally having my dream of being at the Olympics realized.
Describe your favourite moment in your program
Doing my first dive because I feel the adrenalin rush through my body and confidence through my heart and mind.
How do you know when you’ve nailed a dive?
It’s the best feeling in the world for me, when I land in the water and my dive just felt perfect.
What is unique about your diving style?
I jump very high.
What are you thinking about while you’re in the air?
Nothing, I clear my mind as soon as I step onto the board. My body knows how to execute so I don’t overthink what I need to do.
Does time slow down? How long do you feel like you’re in the air?
I feel like I’m in the air for not even a second, I feel like I jump and everything happens so fast and before I know it I’m already underwater.
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JEN ABEL
Age: 24
Height: 5-3
Weight: 130 lb.
Hometown: Laval, Que.
Abel is a decorated Olympian—she and Heymans won bronze in the synchronized springboard event at the 2012 Games. She won bronze in the individual event at the 2011 worlds, and enters the Olympics the third-ranked diver in the world on the individual springboard.
What are you most looking forward to in Rio?
I’m looking forward to seeing the Olympic rings everywhere, especially at the bottom of the pool!
Describe your favourite moment in your program.
When I have the feeling that what am I doing is working.
Describe your “dream” program or dive.
My dream program is to land my five dives on my head in order to win a medal.
How do you know when you’ve nailed a dive?
When I can hear the crowd scream even though I’m still underwater!
What is unique about your diving style?
I am known as one of the most powerful female divers on the planet. But I think my determination also defines my diving style.
What are you thinking about while you’re in the air?
I actually try to think as little as possible. My body knows exactly what it needs to do.
Does time slow down? How long do you feel like you’re in the air?
Time slows down when you are in trouble! But a dive always seems much longer for a diver than for a spectator.
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The women’s synchronized three-metre springboard competition takes place on Aug. 7.
