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Paris Olympics-bound Canadians Nathan Zsombor-Murray and Rylan Wiens placed fifth in the men’s 10-metre synchronized competition Sunday at the World Aquatics Diving World Cup.
Zsombor-Murray, from Pointe-Claire and Wiens, from Pike Lake, Sask., held on to second place through four rounds of the six-leg event. A missed dive by Wiens on their fourth attempt, however, caught up with them as they finished with 409.95 points.
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“Definitely a little disappointed knowing how close the podium was,” Wiens said. “Just that fourth-round dive for me, it’s been going well, I’ve been doing well in competition and just didn’t do well on this one, so a little bit disappointed in that.”
Yang Hao and Junjie Lian of China captured gold (457.23), Randal Willars Valdez and Kevin Berlin Reyes of Mexico won silver (428.97) and Thomas Daley and Noah Williams of Great Britain took bronze (417.93).
Zsombor-Murray and Wiens have pre-qualified for this summer’s Games in the discipline. They also placed fifth at last month’s world championships in Doha, but are aiming for better in Paris.
“I’m hoping for higher than fifth place at the Olympics, I’m hoping for a medal,” Zsombor-Murray said. “I think a performance like this on my end would be enough, and Rylan, if his fourth dive is better I think it’ll be close for a medal.”
Earlier, Chen Yiwen and Chang Yani of China topped the podium (329.40) in the women’s three-metre synchro. Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook of the U.S. earned silver (312.60) while Madison Keeney and Anabelle Smith of Australia took bronze (297.60).
Canadians Aimee Wilson and Margo Elam of Calgary placed fourth (285.90).
Later Sunday, Montreal’s Cedric Fofana finished eighth (416.05) in the men’s three-metre springboard, his first final at a major international competition.
Wang Zongyuan of China won gold (549.50), Oscar Olvera Ibarra of Mexico claimed silver (512.75) and Jack Laugher of Great Britain held bronze (506.00).
Calgary’s Caeli McKay and Ottawa’s Kate Miller were scheduled to compete in the women’s 10-metre platform to wrap up the weekend.
The event has featured over 120 divers — including 12 Canadians — from more than 20 countries.
Montreal is the first World Cup event of the season, followed by another stop from March 21-24 in Berlin and the World Cup Super Final from April 19-21 in Xi’an, China.
The Canadian Olympic trials are set for May 17-19 in Windsor, Ont. The Olympics begin on July 26.
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