Caeli McKay was fewer than eight points out of bronze position in women’s 10-metre platform after her first dive Monday but couldn’t deliver a difference-making performance in her next four attempts to get in the medal mix at the world aquatics championships.
The Calgary native, making her first appearance of the year at an international competition, placed fifth with 318.45 points, 20.40 behind bronze medallist Pandelela Pamg of Malaysia (338.85).
Chen Yuxi led a 1-2 finish for China, successfully defending her title with a score of 417.25, 0.30 points ahead of teammate and 2020 Olympic champion Quan Hongchan.
McKay continues to work her way back after tearing ligaments in her left ankle a month before last year’s Olympics.
As she pointed to the pool, McKay told Brenda Irving of CBC Sports Monday marked one year since she tore ligaments in her ankle while dryland training ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
WATCH | ‘I wasn’t prepared for this event,’ says emotional McKay:
Calgary’s Caeli McKay spoke to CBC Sports’ Brenda Irving following her fifth-place finish in the women’s diving 10-metre platform final at the 2022 FINA world championships in Budapest. McKay is still recovering after tearing ligament in her left ankle one year ago.
“I’m super proud of what I did [today],” said the teary-eyed athlete, who was seventh in the event at 2019 worlds in Gwangju, South Korea. “I wasn’t very sharp on the entries [to the water] but I’m just happy and proud to be here.”
A year ago at Canadian trials, McKay caught her foot between a mat and a box she was jumping from while dryland training.
The 23-year-old was able to dive at the Olympics and placed fourth with the now-retired Meaghan Benfeito in the 10-metre synchronized event, finishing less than a point off the podium.
I’m putting in the work and trying to get my body healthy enough that I can just worry [about competing].— Canadian diver Caeli McKay
McKay chose to rest and not to compete at the FINA Grand Prix earlier this month in Calgary after finishing second at nationals in May.
“I wasn’t prepared for this event at all,” she said Monday. “I rushed to get to nationals to get here.
“I’m putting in the work and trying to get my body healthy enough that I can just worry [about competing].”
Fourth entering her final dive on Monday, back 2 ½ somersaults 1 ½ twists with a 3.2 degree of difficulty, McKay scored 65.60 and slipped to fifth behind third-place Pamg and Brazil’s Ingrid Oliveira.
McKay’s fourth dive was the difference. The back 3 ½ somersaults is her highest-scoring dive but she only managed 57.75 points on Monday while Pamg posted 75.20 — her highest of the day — to extend her hold on bronze by nearly 20 points over McKay.
Medal threat after 3rd dive
After qualifying third for the final, the Canadian opened Monday’s competition with a nice entry into the water on her forward 3 ½ somersaults.
McKay’s second dive dropped her to fifth, behind Oliveira, who scored 67.20 to remain third, and Pamg in fourth. The Montreal resident managed just 58.80 on her reverse 2 ½ somersaults, the lowest degree of difficulty of any of her attempts at 2.8.
WATCH | ‘I haven’t had a day without pain since my accident,” McKay says:
What do you do when you have been working your whole life toward something … and then in an instant, all seems lost?
McKay rebounded on her third dive, inward 3 ½ somersaults, that netted McKay 68.80 points and allowed her to leapfrog Oliveira and close to within 1.35 points of Pamg (196.45-195.10).
Just over a year ago, McKay caught her foot between a mat and a box she was jumping from while dryland training at Canadian trials.
She was able to dive at the Olympics in Tokyo and placed fourth with the now-retired Meaghan Benfeito in the 10-metre synchronized event, finishing less than a point off the podium.
McKay chose to rest and not to compete at the FINA Grand Prix in her native Calgary earlier this month after finishing second at nationals in May.
Coverage continues Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET with the men’s three-metre springboard final, followed by the men’s springboard synchro event at 1 p.m.
WATCH | Full event coverage of women’s 10-metre platform from Budapest:
Watch the women’s diving 10-metre platform final at the 2022 FINA world championships in Budapest.
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