3-time Olympic bronze medallist Meaghan Benfeito retires from diving

Three-time Olympic bronze medallist Meaghan Benfeito is retiring from diving.

The 33-year-old from Laval, Que., competed at four consecutive Olympic Games from Beijing 2008 through Tokyo 2020.

Two of Benfeito's podium appearances came alongside partner Roseline Filion in the synchronized 10-metre platform event at London 2012 and Rio 2016. Benfeito also added an individual bronze in the distance at the latter Games.

"After several months of reflection, it is now time for me to hang up my Speedo. I'm so proud of the career that I had and am extremely grateful for what diving has brought to my life, but I ' finally ready to take the next step," Benfeito wrote in a press release.

After Filion retired following Rio, Benfeito teamed up with Caeli McKay, a 22-year-old from Calgary.

It was revealed later that McKay was competing with an injured ankle.

After the event, Benfeito hinted that the Tokyo Games may be her last.

"I can't wait to watch [McKay] in 2024," she told CBC Sports' Devin Heroux. "I don't know. There are just some good days and then bad days when I want to retire. Today I want to go to 2024. But tomorrow I'll probably not want to go."

On Wednesday, Benfeito decided to officially announce her retirement, something that has been unofficial to her for a few months.

"I haven't resumed training since the Games. I haven't set foot in Olympic Stadium since before Tokyo," Benfeito said. "[After the Olympics], I went to join my boyfriend [Alexandre Dupuis] in Regina, where he played for the Roughriders, and I rubbed shoulders with the national team at that time. I was on the edge of a swimming pool four days a week for three months, and I didn't miss it. I like the athletes, the coaches and the staff, but miss diving? No. I did what I had to do."

Filion congratulated Benfeito on her retirement in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

"I am proud and in awe of the woman you are. And I love you quite a lot! Happy retirement @megbenfeito," Filion wrote in French.

Benfeito began diving at seven years old and competing at eight, inspired by Canadians Alex Despatie and Émilie Heymans.

Besides her Olympic success, Benfeito also won four world championship medals (three silver, one bronze), five Commonwealth Games medals (two gold, two silver, one bronze) and seven Pan American Games medals (three gold, one silver, three bronze).

Benfeito lost her Olympic medals when a fire destroyed her Montreal-area condo building on Jan. 28, 2021. She was presented with replacement medals shortly before the start of the Tokyo Games.

While Benfeito hopes to stay around diving to help the next generation, she said her dream is to work with kids and ultimately open a daycare with her sisters.