Filion will compete in the 10m synchronised event with Meaghan Benfeito, as the pair celebrates their 10th anniversary as synchro partners. Filion and Benfeito earned a bronze medal in the 10m platform synchro event at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Benfeito and Filion first arrived on the podium ten summers ago during the 2005 FINA World Championships in Montreal when they earned a bronze medal in front of an enthusiastic home audience. In 2013 at the Barcelona World Championships the pair placed second in the 10m synchro event.
"Last year we won a gold medal at this event and we feel comfortable being back in Windsor. We look forward to seeing the stands full because it motivates us. When we see Canadian flags and hear your cheers we feel your support and it lifts us." said Filion
"We are ready to put on a show!" but the 27 year old Canadian is sure that she and her partner might just be capable of changing lives and daring kids to dream big. According to Filion, "somewhere in the stands will be a young athlete that we hope will be attracted to diving".
Happy to have Canadian soil underfoot, Filion freely admits the FINA World Series can be hard work and often grueling. According to Filion, "the FINA World Series event includes a lot of travel and also the challenges and the fatigue that tests us against our competitors - it's part of the work we each need to do to be ready" for events like this summer's Pan Am Games, and the even more competitive FINA World Championships in Kazan.
Windsor (CAN) press conference: Filion, Benfeito and Boudia. Photo credit: Vaughn Ridley
"FINA World Series event like this one in Windsor is an opportunity to dive against the world's best divers. We are competing against the top 6 divers from the Olympics and the World Championships. The medallists in the 2016 will likely be competing this weekend in Windsor." predicted Filion.
The FINA/NVC World Series event will conclude in Mexico next weekend, but the summer calendar is quite busy for the Canadian due. Filion notes the "Toronto Pan American Games is the first opportunity to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games so we are already on the 'road to Rio'. Less than ten days later the pair will be competing in Kazan at the FINA World Championships.
Benfeito is also competing in this sports newest event, the mixed synchro but the added challenge is adapting to a different partner. Benfeito's partner is 10" taller than she is and that presents challenges for both divers. She's just 5 feet tall and has been competing with Filion for 10 years. The 26 year old is also teamed with 18 year old Vincent Riendeau who has been diving since he was 5 years old. Together this will be only their 5th pairing in the new event; most of their experience during four previous editions of the World Series and in the Canada cup.