Her departure to the United States allowed Mia Vallée to rediscover her passion for scuba diving and to live the balanced life she was looking for when she left Montreal.
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A talented young diver, the two-time medalist at the last Aquatic Worlds in Budapest felt suffocated in Diving Canada’s structure when she felt the need to take a six-month break in 2017 at the age of 16.
Shortly after returning to diving with her friends from Club CAMO, Vallée received a scholarship with the Miami Hurricanes. His departure to Florida served as a stepping stone to athletic and academic excellence and allowed him to thrive in various facets of his life.
Photo courtesy of Diving Canada/Antoine SAITO
“If I had stayed in Montreal where all I had in mind was scuba diving, I would not have had the mental capacity to achieve what I achieved last year,” she said. I needed this perspective to focus on other priorities for a few years.
Vallée became the first Canadian to win two individual medals at the same World Championships in Budapest last June, before winning gold in the one-meter springboard and two bronze medals in the 3-meter and 3-meter synchronized weeks later at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham – Two won , England.
“The balance in my life has made the difference,” explained the bachelor’s degree in marine biochemistry, who will start her master’s degree in September. When I’m stressed about diving because it’s not going as well as I’d like, the only thing that helps me is to stop diving and work on my books and hang out with my friends. It was very important when I realized that.”
Remaining in Canada under the current system would have taken Vallée several years to earn a college degree, while she did so in four years by choosing the NCAA and additionally putting aside her social life.
“It wasn’t easy to reconcile the two, but I’m surrounded by a good group of friends who are also athletes and who are very motivated by school,” said the Paris Olympics competitor serious contender for the podium in 2024. It was easier to study on a Saturday night than to go to a restaurant. I have just completed my thesis on the resilience of corals and will start a supplementary master’s degree. It’s as exciting as diving.”
Photo courtesy of Diving Canada/Antoine SAITO
An impressed coach
Randy Ableman, who is in Montreal for the World Championships, is impressed by his protégé. “Mia is so much more than an excellent jumper,” said the man who has competed in the last eight Olympiads. She will be a great asset to society and I hope she can save our oceans.”
“His time in the NCAA gave him a fresh start to pursue the man who led the Hurricanes for 34 years. Mia was good when she was younger, but she didn’t feel like it anymore. His decision to choose Miami made him shine on both counts.
Photo courtesy of Diving Canada/Antoine SAITO
Mia Vallée surprised the diving world by winning two medals at her first World Senior Championships in Budapest in July.
A premiere since 2015
For the first time since 2015, Vallée’s CAMO invitation will give her the opportunity to perform to members of her family this weekend, many of whom have never seen her in action other than over the internet. .
“I’m incredibly excited,” she said with her best smile. There will be about thirty members of my family there including my six little cousins. Competing in a competition of this level and in such an environment will give me an incredible feeling. The members of Team Mia will be doing quite a few.”
At last summer’s World Cup, her boyfriend, whom she met in Miami, had Team Mia printed on jerseys for his bodyguard of five or six in Hungary.
“I can’t have any higher expectations because my family will be there, but I’m really confident it will be good. After a difficult start to the varsity season because I put too much pressure on myself, I’ve used the last month and a half to focus on my technique and my entry into the water.
Along with Pamela Ware, Vallée will take the stage today in the 3m synchro final.
Photo courtesy of Diving Canada/Antoine SAITO