Music: {allcanada} Abel, Heymans a serious medal threat

Friday, July 29, 2011

{allcanada} Abel, Heymans a serious medal threat

Canadian divers Émilie Heymans and Jennifer Abel are rounding into form just in time for the final 12-month stretch leading up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The duo has dominated the three-metre synchronized diving circuit in 2011, having placed in the top-two in all but one of eight competitions, with their most recent victory a silver medal finish at the FINA World Aquatic Championships in July. The twosome also won gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.

"I feel pretty good right now," Heymans told sportsnet.ca Wednesday. "We had a really good year all around and we're very happy with our performance. I think we're just going to keep training really hard and make sure our dive is really consistent. It's very encouraging for next year."

After spending most of the year atop podiums across the world, Heymans and Abel acknowledged the hard work and training they put in over the past few years has been instrumental for their success in 2011.

Although most of their time is spent practicing in the pool - 20 hours apart and five working together - training away from the water is equally important.

"You need a lot of strength and cardio to be a good diver," Abel said.

"We don't burn calories in our event, unlike someone like Michael Phelps who can eat as much as he wants and then go burn it off in the pool," Heymans added. "Our dry-land training and a balanced diet is very important for us to stay fit and remain competitive."

Although a banner year and high praise can have a negative impact on motivation for some athletes, the Quebec natives maintain a sharp focus and will continue to stick to the game plan leading up to London.

"What we are doing is working, so we just need to keep training hard and try our best in every session," Heymans said. "We need to stick to what we did last year and the year before. At this point it's not really the point to try something new."

Already Canada's most decorated diver with three Olympic medals, Heymans has the chance to add to her legacy by becoming the first female diver - and first Canadian summer Olympian - to win medals at four consecutive Games. Although she has had most of her success in the 10-metre platform events, the switch to 3m has been seamless. And a lot of that has to do with her young partner.

Abel, 20, who's been Heymans' synchro partner for a year and a half despite a relationship that goes back much further, is one of Canada's brightest young stars, having qualified for the Beijing Olympics as a 16-year-old and diving for the senior national team at 14.

"I learned a lot from Beijing, it was amazing," Abel said. "I was only 16, so I was there for experience more than doing anything major. But this year I'm looking to make the finals. I feel really different. In 2007 I wasn't thinking about the Olympics, but this time I'm prepared."

If the past year is any indication, Heymans and Abel not only have a realistic shot at reaching the podium in London, but could become the first Canadians to take home a medal in 3m synchro.