Montreal high diver fourth at FINA World Championships

BARCELONA – Stephanie De Lima of Montreal placed fourth in the inaugural women’s 20-metre high diving event on Tuesday at the FINA world championships.

The U.S., was 1-2 with Cesilie Carlton earning the gold with 211.60 points and Ginger Huber second at 206.70. Anna Bader of Germany was third at 203.60 while De Lima followed at 182.55.

‘’My last two dives were probably the best two I’ve ever done in my life,’’ said De Lima, 25, who has been high diving for seven years. ‘’It was a magical experience for me with the crowd and the opportunity to compete in front of my parents.’’

De Lima felt she could have scored better on her opening reverse dive but rebounded with solid scores on her backward and twisting dives.

Being an event at the FINA worlds bodes well for her sport’s future she says. ‘’We still have a small women’s field so hopefully it will incite others to try it out,’’ she said. ‘’I certainly plan to keep doing shows and taking advantage of any competitive opportunities.’’

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Written and distributed by Louis Daignault for Diving Canada

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July 28, 2013

High diving makes its debut at FINA World Championships

BARCELONA – Stephanie De Lima of Montreal, a professional high diver who performs at Canada’s Wonderland, will be Canada’s sole entry when this spectacular sport makes its debut at the FINA World Championships on Monday.

The men get into action on Monday competing on the 27-metre platform while the women, who dive from 20-metres, are in the spotlightTuesday. The competition takes place outdoors at the Port of Barcelona where diving towers were installed for the competition.

‘’It’s a big honour to compete here,’’ said De Lima, 25, a psychology graduate from the University of Hawaii where she competed on the varsity diving team. ‘’It’s going to be exciting to be in a competitive setting. It’s a big step for our sport.’’

De Lima competed earlier this year at her first high diving competition and placed fourth. While she competed in regular diving throughout her youth she started high diving at age 18 first doing shows at La Ronde in Montreal launching herself from boards as high as 27 metres,

‘’The adrenaline rush when you dive from that height is what hooks me to the sport,’’ said De Lima, who coaches trampoline in the winter months. ‘’There’s certainly a danger to the sport but we are very well trained. It’s something that’s in the back of your mind.’’

Because of the pounding to the body high divers only execute five or six dives a day in training. They reach speeds of 90 km in their three-second plunge and always land feet first.

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2qhkct2zi70zb90/aXe629QlWJ