Child-like excitement

Alexandre Despatie has won many titles but is still chasing that Olympic gold.

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The 36-time Canadian men’s senior champion has won gold at the Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games and World Aquatic Championships. In fact he has won nine Commonweath Games medals over the years, including three golds (one-metre and three-metre springboard, and three-metre synchronized springboard) at the most recent event in Dehli, India in 2010.

Things are a little different this time around however as the 26-year-old begins preparation for the 2012 Games. He is in the midst of returning to the pool after missing a good portion of last season due to tendonitis and bursitis in his left knee but he says he has spent all of that down time working himself back into game shape.

Despatie recently got back in the pool to begin training for this season. But the Laval, Que., native said he is really enjoying himself and feels reinvigorated by the experience.

"I’m really at the basics right now back in the pool. A simple thing like jumping off the board and just doing a simple dive got me so excited in the past few weeks.

"I feel like a child again. At the stage I am at right now I am doing very, very, very basic stuff, stuff that I teach little kids."

He also believes that the long layoff due to injury has reignited his passion for diving and thinks this will pay off at London 2012.

"I’m hoping to be there with the excitement of a child but with the experience of man."

Despatie expects to be back in his normal form by the time the Olympic qualifying takes place.

"I’m in really good physical condition and I’m going to hold onto that all the way to London in February."

As he will be one of a handful medallists returning for the whole Canadian Olympic team, Despatie understands that there will be added pressure. But he is taking it in stride.

"Fourth games, I know what I am looking at. I know where I am headed and I know what is expected of me," Despatie said. "I’m going to do everything in my power to be at my best and from there, the result will come."

Despatie worked as a correspondent on French television during the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and he said Canada’s success really motivated him when he got back to his day job.

"The energy, the motivation that I got from Vancouver after, really affected my training, my season, after that and I’m going to carry this onto London."

He is concerned that the expectations for Canadian athletes might be a little high after all the success Canada experienced in Vancouver.

"We the athletes are very conscious that we are a winter nation and the objectives are different for the summer Olympics," Despatie said. "However, all that we can do, all that we can say is that we will be there giving it our all. How can people be disappointed?"

The goal that has been set for Canadian divers heading into the 2012 Games has been a top-12 finish for all of the athletes. Despatie believes this is achievable for himself and for his teammates as well.

"I believe (the goal is) very realistic, we have a very strong team. Lots of veterans, lots of people that have been there before that know how to perform when it’s time to. Lots of rookies too but that are already established athletes."

It has been a long road for Despatie to these Games. But the veteran diver believes he will finally get the big prize this time around.

"Obviously I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t want to go and win. That’s what I want."