Double Olympic medallist Roseline Filion announces retirement
Quebec diver won 2 Olympic bronze medals
Canadian diver Roseline Filion confirmed her retirement on Monday.
It's with great emotions that after 20 years of being a competitive athlete, I decided to retire. Thanks to all of you who supported me ! <a href="https://t.co/J3Uxe7sEkw">pic.twitter.com/J3Uxe7sEkw</a>
—@RoselinefilionThe native of Laval, Que., won a bronze medal in the women's 10-metre synchronized platform at Rio 2016. Filion also captured bronze in the same event at London 2012. Filion earned both medals with partner Meaghan Benfeito.
The 29-year-old joined the Canadian national team in 2005, competing in three Olympic Games.
"I said after Rio that I wanted to do another season, so that the [Olympic] Games wouldn't be my last competition," Filion told Radio Canada. "You don't want to come to the Olympic Games saying that it will be the last time I'll be diving.
"It's a lot of pressure. I didn't want to put that on my shoulders."
Filion also placed sixth at Rio 2016 in the individual 10m platform while Benfeito won bronze.
Partners with Benfeito since 2005, Filion admits that telling her long-time friend of her decision wasn't easy.
"The hardest part was looking her in the eyes and saying, 'I'm sorry, I cannot come back.'"
Benfeito is expected to compete for Canada at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Difficult start to 2016
In December 2015, Filion broke the talus bone in her right ankle during warming up, slamming her foot on the concrete while doing a routine back flip on a mat. She continued to train but was unable to put any pressure on her ankle.
She made her come back at the FINA World Cup in February 2016 where she qualified for Rio 2016 in the individual 10m and finished sixth.
Filion and Benfeito won a gold medal in 10m synchro at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto along. The duo also won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Filion captured three medals at the FINA world championships in her career: silver in 2015 (10m synchro), silver in 2013 (10m synchro), and bronze in 2005 (10m synchro).
"I've had great competitions throughout my career and I am proud of that," Filion continued. "My last competition in Rio was the peak of my career — not only my bronze medal with Meaghan, but also my individual performance. I missed one dive, but my four others were perfect. That's the picture that I'm keeping with me"