Canada misses out on podium on Day 2 of FINA Diving World Series
Montreal’s Meaghan Benfeito and Celina Toth of St. Thomas, Ont., both failed to qualify for the women’s 10-metre platform final on Saturday as Canada fell short of the podium on the second day of competition at the FINA Diving World Series.
Benfeito, a double bronze medallist at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, finished fifth in her semifinal. Disaster struck when she scored 14.85 on her third dive, a back 3 1/2 somersault.
“I didn’t do my tuck properly, I didn’t hold it tight enough,” Benfeito said. “My hand slipped a little at the entrance, when I had to open. This is not a mistake I make often, but it can happen. I’m a little sad and it hurts.”
Benfeito won bronze in the previous series stop in Beijing on March 9 after winning silver in the season opener in Sagamihara, Japan. She was tied for second in the series rankings with China’s Ren Qian through the first two stops with 30 points.