Canadian diver Pamela Ware wins gold at Grand Prix event

Canadian diver Pamela Ware won the gold medal in the three-metre springboard final at the FINA Grand Prix in Madrid Friday.

Ware finished with a total score of 301.35 points, more than five ahead of silver medallist American Maria Coburn, who finished with 295.7 points. Inga Jensen, of the Netherlands, took home the bronze medal at 295.6.

”It felt great being on the top of the podium, but I know I can do better,” said Ware. ”I have a lot of improvements to make in my dives. With only three months of training this year, I am happy about how most of my dives went.”

Canada has now earned nine medals during this year’s diving circuit: three gold, three silver and three bronze. Two of those were won by Ware.

Madrid is Ware’s third competition since a return from foot surgery, and coach Aaron Dziver says Ware deserves high praise for her performance in Madrid thus far.

”The great thing about Pam is that she never gives up,” said Ware’s coach Aaron Dziver. ”After she over rotated her second dive she came back to do two phenomenal dives and win a very close competition.”

The Quebec native placed seventh in the same event during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Mia Vallée, the other Canadian competing in the event, finished fourth in her semifinal and eighth overall.