Jennifer Abel was the first to put Canada on the medal table in London 2012 with 3-metre synchronized springboard partner Émilie Heymans. The pair earned bronze on Day 2 of the Games, marking Abel’s first time on an Olympic podium. In the 3m individual event, she finished sixth.
In Beijing 2008, at age 16, Abel became one of the youngest divers in Canadian history to secure a berth and represent her country at the Olympic Games.
The Laval, Que. native started diving in 1996 and made her first senior international appearance in 2006 at the Senior Grand Prix in Spain. In 2008, she earned a silver medal with Heymans and collected a pair of bronze medals on the FINA Grand Prix circuit the following year. Heymans (a four-time Olympic medallist) and Abel worked together to become an international force and in 2010 the duo reached the podium on the FINA Grand Prix, World Series, and World Cup circuits.
At the Commonwealth Games in Delhi that year, Abel was one gold shy of a sweep in all three springboard events, earning two gold medals and one silver.
In 2011, Abel did not miss a podium on the 3-metre event all season, and with two medals at the FINA World Aquatic Championships, she secured Canada spots in both the 3-metre individual and 3-metre synchro events at the 2012 London Games.
Abel joined Heymans to finish the 2011 season with a silver medal in 3-metre synchro at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara. Upon returning from Mexico, Jennifer was named the 2011 Aquatic Federation of Canada’s female athlete of the year. Abel trains at the Olympic Pool in Montreal and holds a national record with Heymans in 3-metre synchro with 336.6 points, set in June 2011.
Club:
CAMO PLONGEON
Languages spoken:
FRANÇAIS
Idols (in sport or other):
GREG LOUGANIS
Favourite activities outside of sport:
FILM and DANCE
Sibling(s) Name(s) (date of birth):
ANDY ABEL 21ANS
Training Location(s):
Olympic Pool, Montreal
Preferred sport events / Specialties:
3 meter and 3 metre synchro
Coach(es):
Cesar Henderson, Arturo Miranda
Senior national athlete since:
2006 at 15 years old
Nickname (s):
Ivonne.Shoucair
Canadian, World or Olympic records held (at any time):
Canadian Record – 3m synchro – 2011 (partner: E.Heymans) (Edmonton, AB) – 336.60 pts.
Canadian Junior Record – 1m – 2008 (Thunder Bay, ON) – 494.20 pts.
National titles (include event, year):
2006 – 10m – Junior National Championships
2008 – 1m – Senior Winter Championships
2008 – 3m synchro – Winter Senior National Championships (partner: Meaghan Benfeito)
2009 – 1m – Winter Senior National Championships
2009 – 3m synchro – Senior National Championships (partner: Melanie Rinaldi)
2010: 3m synchro – Winter Senior National Championships (partner: Meaghan Benfeito)
2010: 3m – Senior National championships
2010: 3m synchro – Senior National Championships (partner: Emilie Heymans)
2011: 3m – Winter Senior National Championships
2011: 3m synchro – Winter Senior National Championships (partner: Emilie Heymans)
2011: 3m synchro – Senior National Championships (partner: Emilie Heymans)
Career notes (inc. Top results) in 2011:
2011 – FINA World Championships – Silver on 3m Synchro (Heymans) and Bronze on 3m
2011 – FINA World Series 2 – 2 Silver on 3m, 4 Silver on 3m synchro (Heymans), 3 Bronze on 3m
2011 – FINA World Series 1 – Bronze on 3m
2011 – Spain Grand Prix – Gold on 3m
Career notes (inc. Top results) in 2010:
2010 – Commonwealth Games – Gold on 1m and 3m synchro (Heymans), Silver on 3m
2010 – Spain Grand Prix – Silver on 3m , Bronze on 3m synchro (Heymans)
2010 – FINA World Cup – Bronze on 3m synchro (Heymans)
2010 – Canada Cup – Silver on 3m synchro (Heymans)
2010 – FINA World Series 2- Silver on 3m synchro (Heymans)
Career notes (inc. Top results) in 2009:
2009 – FINA World Championships – 12th on 1m, 11th on 3m, 4th on 3m synchro (Rinaldi)
2009 – Summer Senior National Championships – Bronze on 1m, silver on 3m, gold on 3m synchro (Rinaldi)
2009 – USA Grand Prix – Bronze on 3m
2009 – Canada Cup – Silver on 3m synchro (Rinaldi) , Bronze on 3m
2009 – Winter Senior National Championships – Gold on 1m, Silver on 3m
Career notes (inc. Top results) in 2008:
2008 – FINA World Junior Championships – Silver on 3M
2008 – Olympic Team Member – 13th on 3m
2008 – Maple Leaf Simply Fresh Canada Cup – Bronze on 3m synchro (Benfeito)
2008 – Winter Senior National Championships – Gold on 1m & 3m synchro (Benfeito), Silver on 3m
2008 – FINA World Cup – 11th on 3m
2008 – Spain Grand Prix – Bronze on 3m
Career notes (inc. Top results) in 2007:
2007 – Pan Am Jr. Championships- Gold on 3m and 3m synchro, Silver on 1m
2007 – Canada Cup – Silver on 3m synchro (Benfeito)
Career notes (inc. Top results) in 2006:
2006 – FINA World Junior Championships – Bronze on 3m
2006 – Speedo Junior National Championships – Silver on 1m & 3m, Gold on 10m
2006 – Summer Senior National Championships – Bronze on 1m
2006 – Spain Grand Prix – 6th on 10m, Silver on 10m synchro (CA.Ware)
World Championship appearances – Best results by year:
Bronze – 3m – 2006 World Jr. Championships
Silver – 3m – 2008 World Jr. Championships
4th – 3m synchro – 2009 World Championships (partner: Melanie Rinaldi)
Bronze – 3m – 2011 World Championships
Silver – 3m synchro – 2011 World Championships (parter: Emilie Heymans)
Major awards (ex. CDN Player of Year, Hall of Fame inductee):
2010 Diving Canada Female Athlete of the Year Award
2008 Beverly Boy’s Award (Winter Nationals)
2006 Diving Canada Outstanding Diving Junior Award
