Dive 3 meters | Hard learning for Cedric Fofana

Simon Droin
Tap

The surprise guest on the Canadian team, the 17-year-old likely faced a real setback with his first appearance at the Olympic Games, finishing preliminary for the 3m springboard at 29.^E And last place, over 60 points from its nearest competitor.

The Quebec teenager, who was paralyzed by the event scale, also received a score of 0 for a failed dive in the fourth round, which he failed to perform after three and a half bad jumps. He really did a flat on the back.

In short, this is the day to forget Fofana, who loves to experience a different experience without a specific goal.

“It’s not what I expected, because months have passed, as well as practices are going well,” he said with incredible coolness after the crash. “At training camp in Toronto, and after here, almost every day I was very satisfied with what I was doing. Starting my Olympic” dream “this way was a bit frustrating. But there will be others, I believe.”

“Very nervous”

During the warm-up, Fofana still looks relaxed, smiling ridiculously at a diver with a volunteer. However, his nerves went out before the start of the competition at the Tokyo Aquatic Center on Monday afternoon.

His skepticism, dangerous double and halfback were evident on his first dive. This is his best.

“I’m so scared. I’m not going to put it aside and tell myself that there are five left and go ahead. I think it’s time to come on the international circuit.”

Mexican Osmar is the second shortest diver 3 meters behind Olvera Ibarra (9)^E), Kubeser won the Canadian Olympic Trials in Toronto at the end of June.

His talent is evident from a young age. “He has a rhythm, he has an amazing line to get into the water, great locations, flexibility and he worked with interest and hard work,” Club ARO de Quebec said, contacting one of his first coaches at Danny Boulanger‌ over the phone. Competition.

At the age of 13 and a half, Fosser set out to train under the leadership of Caesar Henderson at the National Sports Institute at the Olympic Stadium. In 2018, he competed in the 3m at the World Junior Championships in the 14-15 division. Won a bronze medal in, the first Canadian after Alexander Despati to score a hat-trick in 2002.

3 minutes later on Sunday, Jennifer Abel emphasized her teammate’s “amazing presence” and the “wow factor” he revealed. “He’s a long-distance diver,” said the two-time Olympic medalist.

At the end of the event, the Chinese-dominated, Fofana Italian of Quebec origin received large hugs from Sarah Jodoin de Maria.

“She told me to cry if I wanted to. Let it go, to live the moment. To learn and to move forward.”

“Our fault”

One thing is for sure, Fofana will have to go back to the drawing board. Beyond the competition, the technical director of Diving Canada did not go four ways to describe his performance: “embarrassing”.

“He has no way to embellish reality: it’s embarrassing to him, it’s embarrassing to us. Mitch Geller is vague. But the fault is not his, it’s ours. He’s not ready for this competition.”

The director suggested that his company should take “its responsibilities” and identify what led to this poor performance. “It’s not a reflection of his talent in any way. He is one of the most talented young divers Canada has ever seen. It is especially sad to know this experience at the Olympics.”

Geller insisted that Fofana “should understand that he did as he was asked.” Technical work and emotional management are two aspects that strengthen an athlete to avoid fluctuations in his performance. Without modifying everything, his young age was taken into consideration.

“He needs to recognize his immense potential. You need to add elements that give him the stability you want. Because he has strength, speed and flexibility.”

Even if he is not sent back to the competition by then, Geller wants to give him the time he needs to get there.