Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Synchro silver for Abel and Citrini-Beaulieu at diving World Series in Montreal

Jennifer Abel and Melissa Citrini-Beaulieu gave the home crowd something to celebrate on Friday, winning synchronized 3m springboard silver on the first day of competition at the FINA Diving World Series in Montreal.

The Canadian duo totalled 304.83 points for their five dives to finish only behind Chang Yani and Shi Tingmao, who scored 313.50 points. The Chinese had also beaten Abel and Citrini-Beaulieu for the top step of the podium at last year’s world championships. Australians Anabelle Smith and Esther Qin earned 295.80 points for the bronze medal.

Team Canada’s Jennifer Abel, front, and Melissa Citrini-Beaulieu perform in the women’s 3m synchro springboard final at the Commonwealth Games Wednesday, April 11, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Abel and Citrini-Beaulieu set themselves up for a podium position early on. Third after their first dive, they moved up to second after the second round and briefly held the lead following the third round of diving. But the Chinese rebounded to reclaim top spot over the last two rounds.

This is the third of four stops for the FINA Diving World Series. Abel and Citrini-Beaulieu kept their podium streak alive, having won bronze at the first two stops in Beijing, China and Fuji, Japan in early March. The last stop of the circuit will be next weekend in Kazan, Russia.

Earlier in the day, Meaghan Benfeito and Caeli McKay just missed the podium in the women’s synchronized 10m platform, finishing fourth. Philippe Gagne and Francois Imbeau-Dulac also placed fourth in the men’s 3m synchro event.