Roseline Filion Meaghan Benfeito the duo became bronze medallists in the women’s synchronized 10-metre platform diving event at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Centre and Benfeito said she didn’t mind the water of the Olympic pool turning green with algae.
“We’ve had a hard time this week with the sun shining down on the water, it really blinds us sometimes. So the fact that it was green, we took advantage of it,” Benfeito said.
The duo spoke with CBC Radio Noon‘s Steve Rukavina about their Olympic moment.
Here is an excerpt of the interview.
What were you thinking before your last dive?
Meaghan Benfeito (left) and Roseline Filion were Canada’s big winners of Tuesday, earning a bronze medal in the women’s synchronized 10-metre platform diving final. (Wong Maye-E/Associated Press)
Meaghan Benfeito: For the first time of our 11-year career I didn’t look at the scoreboard, so I didn’t know we were fifth going into the last round.
We’ve worked so hard on this so I didn’t want to let the nerves get to me. The coaches looked at us and said, ‘Okay girls, you need this dive. Do it like you do it normally. Do it the best you can.’ And that’s what we did.
It’s a good thing we didn’t know we were fifth going into the last round.
Why not look at the scoreboard?
Roseline Filion: I was just trying to stay as focused as I could. I never look at the scoreboard so it’s a habit for me to not know where we’re standing going into the last dive. Our coach told us we need this one. It’s just about doing what we do.
What about the water? Did you notice the change in the colour?
In this combination of file photos, Rio 2016 Olympic divers are shown competing in diving pools that appeared blue Monday and green Tuesday. (Matt Dunham/Associated Press)
MB: We noticed it at the beginning of practice. We saw it when the British divers went up and I thought, ‘Is it just me or is the water changing colour?’ The more we would dive the greener it would get. I don’t think they would let us dive if it were really dangerous.
What advice would you give young female athletes?
MB: Always believe in yourself. Believe in your dreams. Work hard. Never give up. Never.
