Pamela Ware admits that her misadventure at the Tokyo Olympics last year left its mark. And even if she is determined to continue her career until the Paris Games in 2024, the 29-year-old diver has yet to turn the page on this painful episode which continues to haunt her.
In her second participation in the Olympic event, she seemed destined to qualify for the final on the 3-meter springboard in Tokyo, when, on her last try, she missed her take-off jump on her inverted perilous and a half with three and a half twists. This technical fault forced her to jump into the water feet first.
“The Olympics remain a traumatic moment for me,” she admitted Monday, the day after her participation in the third stage of the FINA Diving Grand Prix in Calgary. It still plays in my head, and I still need a little time to get over it. I think that the more I compete, the more I feel comfortable and I regain confidence. »
After a few months away from the pool on her return from Tokyo, she resumed her training routine not without difficulty.
“I first changed coaches, which was a big change. Then there were the Meaghan departures [Benfeito] and Jennifer [Abel]. We had been together for 15 years. »
“I tried to start doing that dive again [qu’elle était la seule à exécuter en compétition], but it was too difficult mentally. We decided to scrap it and do another dive which I’m still working on. It felt good to do something else and not go back to the past. »
regain confidence
However, the last few months have not lived up to his expectations. She was thus unable to ensure her selection for the World Championships which will take place in Budapest, Hungary, from June 26 to July 3, and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, this summer.
“It’s not really a very important year, it’s more next year and 2024 that count. I would have liked to qualify for the Worlds and the Commonwealth Games. But I tell myself that it gives me more time to train, improve, without pushing things too much. »
After fifteen years with Aaron Dziver, the Montrealer now works with Hui Tong, a new coach hired after the last Games by Diving Canada. She feels that this change has benefited her so far. “With all the changes, I sometimes find it difficult to stay positive, and he helps me to be more so. It really helps me to be more confident in myself. »
Ware must also adapt to her status as the oldest member of a young team in the midst of reconstruction. “I hadn’t thought of that before Mitch [Geller, le directeur technique] tell me about it, before [championnats] nationals in Saskatoon. He wanted to know if it was playing in my head. Maybe. It must be said that I am eight years older than the others, it’s a big age difference. With Meaghan, we were really close, we talked about everything in training and even outside the pool. It’s just hard not having him by my side. »
She also intends to approach Benfeito to ask him how she handled the situation.
Ware has one last competition on her calendar this season, in Italy next month, after which she will focus on training. After discussion with her team, she will adopt a program that will respect her limits more.
“I’m not necessarily able to keep up with the youngsters. I’m not 17 anymore. Currently, we have an hour break between our two two-hour training sessions. I’m having trouble recovering. It was decided that I would have a three-hour break, which would allow me to return home between my two sessions. »