Émilie Heymans named female athlete of the year

Émilie Heymans was named Diving Canada’s female athletes of the year at the association’s annual general meeting held this past weekend in Ottawa. Émilie Heymans, 26, St-Lambert, Que., collected her third career Olympic medal finishing second on women’s 10-metre tower. The Pointe-Claire Diving Club member also collected two medals on tower on the FINA Grand Prix circuit as well as in the FINA World Series. She also earned six more international medals with her 10-metre synchro partner Marie-Ève Marleau including the overall title on the World Series and silver at the World Cup.

‘’With a medal at each of her three Olympic appearances Émilie has established herself as one of Canada’s greatest female divers on tower,’’ said Mitch Geller, Diving Canada’s chief technical officer. ‘’Her brilliant performance in Beijing showed a strength of character that continues to inspire many Canadians.’’

Heyman’s coach at Pointe-Claire, Yihua Li was named Diving Canada’s coach of the year. She also coached Olympic team members Arturo Miranda and Reuben Ross. Both Li and Heymans received the same awards this year from the Aquatic Federation of Canada.

This is Alexandre Despatie, 23, of Laval, Que., who was named male athlete of the year. He earned his second career Olympic medal this summer in Beijing placing second on men’s three-metre. It was a comeback performance for the Club CAMO member who fractured his foot a few months before the Games. Despatie and Arturo Miranda also won bronze on men’s three-metre synchro at the FINA World Cup in February.