With little time to train and being new to the synchronized event, the diving duo of Bryden Hattie and Rylan Wiens were nervous heading up the 10-metre platform for their dives at the Winter Senior Nationals in Saskatoon in January.
Colwood’s Hattie, 16, had only paired up with Saskatoon’s own Wiens, also 16, a few months earlier. It was their first competition together. But the two found their timing, and executed a national men’s record in the 10-metre synchro final with a winning score of 413.04 points.
The gold medal secured their spot representing Canada at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia’s Gold Coast, April 4 to 15.
“Going into that competition we were super nervous, we knew we could qualify [for the Commonwealth Games], so when we won we very happy with the result,” Hattie said.
Success on the 10m platform is a big addition for Hattie, who usually finds the podium in the 3m springboard.
The Claremont secondary student is one of three members from the Boardworks Diving Club at Saanich Commonwealth Place who will represent Canada with and Celina Toth, 25, and long time Boardworks coach Tommy McLeod.
Toth qualified with her gold medal at the 2018 Winter Senior Nationals, scoring 366.75 in the 10-metre tower, ahead of silver medal winning Elaena Dick of TDA diving in Oakville, Ont. It was the latest success for Toth, who won gold on the 10m platform at the Summer Senior Nationals in 2016
“I’m really excited to be back competing at a big games, on the international stage for Canada, it’s been since 2016 at the World Cup, since I was at this level,” said Toth, a University of Victoria student originally from St. Thomas, Ont.
The Commonwealth Games diving competition runs April 10 to 13 at theGold Coast Aquatic Centre.
reporter@saanichnews.com
