THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – Thunder Bay diver, Molly Carlson a 15-year-old teenager, from the Thunder Bay Diving Club kept the Olympic spirit alive this past weekend. Molly Carlson earned her spot to compete in the Youth Olympic Games qualification competition that will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico. Carlson represented Canada in the Women`s 3M Springboard event.
Four athletes were selected to represent Canada in Mexico at this qualifying event. Selection was based on gold medal results from the 2013 CAMO Invitational which took place in Montreal, QC in December 2013. Only (4) divers per nation were allowed to participate. The top (9) divers from each discipline have secured their places to participate at the official 2014 Youth Olympic Games happening in Nanjing, China, August 16th – 18th. Canada`s Vincent Riendeau and Philippe Gagné are part of this roster. Both Carlson, and team-mate Frédérique Lalonde, secured their spots in the finals of their events (top 12, after the preliminary round) and fought hard for the qualifying a spots for Canada, but both finished in 11th place overall.
“I was really excited that things were going so well,” said Carlson, 15. “On those last two dives my tops were better than ever but it was a different feeling and I couldn’t finish them well. Still this was my first big international competition and it was a super experience.”
The 2014 Youth Olympic Games, held every 4 years, is one of the biggest junior competitions on Canada’s international calendar this year. Divers born between 1996 and 1998 are eligible to compete.
Carlson departed for Mexico on Monday, but before she arrives back home, she has a week-long stopover in Saskatoon to compete at the Winter Senior Nationals, March 7-9.
