Filion, Benfeito win silver at world championships, qualify for Olympics

KAZAN, Russia – Canadian divers Roseline Filion of Laval, Que., and Montreal’s Meaghan Benfeito won the silver medal on the women’s 10-metre synchro at the FINA World Championships on Monday, earning an Olympic spot for Canada in the event.

Ruolin Chen and Huixia Li of China won gold with 359.52 points, Filion and Benfeito followed at 339.99 and Un Hyang Kim and Nam Hyang Song of North Korea were third at 325.26.

The top-three finish means Canada is guaranteed an entry in the event at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

”We were ready for a solid performance like this,” said Filion, who won Olympic bronze with Benfeito in the event at the London Games in 2012. ”In addition we delivered our best performance at the most important event of the year. We couldn’t be happier.”

It was Canada’s second silver medal of the competition. On Saturday, Jennifer Abel of Laval and Pamela Ware of Beloeil, Que., were second on three-metre synchro and also locked up an Olympic berth.

On Tuesday, Philippe Gagne of Montreal and Francois Imbeau-Dulac of St-Lazare, Que., compete on men’s three-metre synchro.