Together they won two bronze medals at the Olympic Games in the synchronized 10-meter platform event and were also runner-up in the world championships twice. But what captured the collective imagination was her infectious smile.
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And Roseline Filion and Meaghan Benfeito have not lost this joy of life, even though they retired from the sport the first time seven years ago and the second almost 19 months ago.
“We laughed from start to finish. That was the key to our success, said Benfeito, who wore a necklace decorated with the Olympic rings at the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame induction gala on Monday. We’re known for having fun.”
That bond, which Quebecers have seen grow since the duo turned heads at the 2005 FINA World Championships in Montreal, was still clearly visible Monday night.
“It’s automatic! “We see each other a lot less than we used to, but when we get together, there’s something little something that makes us become two kids again,” said Filion, who works in Radio-Canada’s sports department.
Proof that the two divers are still connected: without discussing each other, they arrived at the Anjou Metropolitan Golf Club dressed in navy blue.
“That was not planned! Filion clarified. We’re the same color from head to toe and that used to happen a lot because we spent so much time together. We’re like two people in one.”
Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion won the bronze medal in the 10-meter synchronized diving at the 2016 Rio Olympics. ARCHIVE PHOTO, DIDIER DEBUS SCISSORS
Honor in doubles
So it’s no surprise that they were inducted into the Quebec Hall of Fame as a duo, even though they also had great careers individually. Benfeito notably climbed to the third step of the podium on the individual platform at the 2016 Rio Games and finished fourth in the 10m synchronized event in Tokyo in 2021 alongside Caeli McKay.
“It’s even more meaningful. Without Meaghan I wouldn’t be here,” Filion said.
“I wouldn’t be here without her,” his 34-year-old partner, now a trainer at a CrossFit gym, replied without delay.
“It was inevitable and unthinkable to experience this evening alone,” the 36-year-old Laval resident added.
Roseline Filion and Meaghan Benfeito during a World Cup in London, 2012. Archive photo, Portal
A diver to watch
The friendly couple even caused an uproar in the nation in the middle of the night. After Sylvie Bernier, Annie Pelletier, Émilie Heymans, Alexandre Despatie, Jennifer Abel, Filion and Benfeito, who will make the province shine internationally?
According to the last two, it is undoubtedly Pamela Ware.
“She had an extremely difficult year in 2021, especially in Tokyo, but she got back on her feet,” explained Benfeito. It’s absolutely incredible. She looks good, she looks happy. […] There are a few that are there, but Pamela will be one to keep an eye on [aux Jeux de] Paris [l’été prochain].”
The 30-year-old completely missed a jump at the last Olympic Games and fell feet first into the water after a poor initial jump. With that, their chances of reaching the final went up in smoke.
“It will be worth getting up at night to see them,” Filion said. She has changed so much, she is more motivated than ever, she has gained self-confidence again.
“She’s smiling! That’s the secret,” Benfeito said.
Pamela Ware during the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, in July 2023. Archive photo, AFP
Hidden on the stairs
We always smile with these two.
“What we remember is not necessarily [des] Performance as such, but it is [du] It was fun to hide on the stairs before diving. All the stupid things we said to each other…” Filion let it go.
But it is impossible to know what kind of “nonsense” this was.
“What happened on the stairs stays on the stairs!” The two girls sang in unison and burst out laughing.
Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion at the Rio 2016 Games. Archive photo, DIDIER DEBUSSCHERE