Names: Jennifer Abel and Pamela Ware
Born: Aug. 23, 1991 in Montreal; Feb. 12, 1993 in Ville Lemoyne, Que.
Sport: Diving (3 m synchro)
What’s their story?
Both Abel and Ware make frequent appearances on the podium as individual divers, but they pose the biggest medal threat as a pair. They began diving together two years ago, following the retirement of Abel’s previous synchro partner, the much-decorated Émilie Heymans, with whom Abel won bronze at the 2012 Games. It wasn’t easy for Abel to have to part ways with Heymans after their success together, but she and Ware quickly found their way. In their first year diving together, 2013, they took home four international medals, including world championship bronze, and they currently sit in the no. 2 spot in world rankings.
Synchronized diving was first introduced at the Olympics in 2000, and at the Pan Am Games in 2003. Athletes are judged both on their execution and synchronization. They try to keep everything from their distance off the springboard to the exact angle of their rotations lined up. Abel and Ware are particularly powerful divers, impressing with the height they can reach out of the hurdle (the part of the dive where they go down on one knee to catapult off the board). Though they can’t punch their ticket to Rio at these Games, their performance in Toronto should be a preview of next summer’s Olympics, for which Abel and Ware are very likely to qualify.
Best result
The bronze at worlds in 2013 was perhaps the most prestigious prize Abel and Ware have won together, but their recent results may be even more telling about their talent: In 2015, they were in the top three at five consecutive international events, collecting three bronze and two silver medals.
Biggest rival
Mexico has a strong diving program. Their 3 m synchro pair, Paola Espinosa and Dolores Hernandez, will likely present the Canadians with their biggest challenge. Espinosa, who is 28, won gold with a different partner at the 2011 Pan Ams (where Abel and Heymans took silver), and also competes in the 10 m synchro event.
Here’s an interesting fact…
Ware used to dive synchro with her older sister, Carol-Ann Ware. Carol-Ann is a member of Canada’s senior national team and competes in the 10 m platform event, where she is currently ranked 27th in the world.
Prediction
Abel and Ware should definitely make the podium, and stand a very good chance of coming in first. Their fiercest competition is typically the Chinese pair, who won’t be at these Games.