The complicity of divers Mia Vallée and Pamela Ware suggests that they have been friends since kindergarten. The truth is that less than a year ago, they barely knew each other and “both believed the other was mean,” Vallée said.
Met at the end of the 3m synchro final at the Pan American Games in Santiago, the two Quebecers explained how their relationship makes things easier in this event. They had just received their silver medal from the competition.
There was disappointment linked to this result. By missing their third dive of the evening, they “lost the gold medal”, to quote Pamela Ware.
“We are happy, but a little disappointed at the same time. It’s really tough mentally to come back after missing a dive, so I’m really proud of our team. Mia had a tough year and she dove really well. I’m also really proud of her,” she shared.
” Do not Cry ! » she quickly added, looking at her partner.
“I’m not crying yet, but please don’t be too nice,” replied Mia Vallée.
Thanks to their last two passes on the springboard, the Canadian duo quietly moved up the rankings to make their way to the podium.
Vallée and Ware started diving together in early May, a few days before winning bronze at the World Cup in Montreal. If their synchronism was appreciated by the judges in Santiago, it is because the divers took a lot of time to refine it. To the point of making it their greatest asset.
“Honestly we worked so hard, we both changed our technique to better match together and find the best technique that works for the team and not for one or the other,” explained Pamela Ware, who is left Chile with two gold medals in addition to the synchro silver.
“With the year coming up, we just need to be more stable in our individual dives and get back to training, but I know it’s going to go really well for the future. »
Easier for two
Double silver medalist at her first Pan American Games, Mia Vallée had more difficulty in the individual 3m. She was distraught after her sixth place finish and broke down in tears in the mixed zone. Pamela Ware was there to comfort her and get her back on her feet in preparation for the synchro final.
“She was able to bring me back to myself this morning. I always feel more confident in synchro and I didn’t realize it until recently. She is such a good partner! When I’m with her, I know I’m going to dive well because she constantly tells me I can do it and that I’m capable. To have that relationship outside of sport and in the pool, with someone you’re competing against in the same event, it’s a feeling I’ve never had before. »
When one is more nervous or looks worse, the other will try to lighten the atmosphere. This is what Pamela Ware did after the individual 3m, then Mia Vallée returned the favor in the evening, during the synchronized event.
“We created an incredible friendship,” summarized Vallée. It’s funny, when we started doing 3m synchro in Montreal, we didn’t know each other very well. We both thought the other was mean! We sat and talked, then we realized we were thinking the same thing. Since then, we have supported each other so much and we know each other better. We really have fun on the springboard. »
“We really want to dive together in Paris. It’s been about a year… no, not even! We’ve only been together for six months! » she continued, laughing.
“With another eight months of work, it’s going to be incredible. I am convinced that our back two and a half will receive the same score as our front three and a half and we will find ourselves at the top of the podium. »