Article by Shenieka Russell-Metcalf
Emilie Heymans and Jennifer Abel, both of Montreal, win Canada’s first bronze medals in women’s Synchronized 3-metre springboard competition at the 2012 London Olympics, on Sunday, July 29, 2012.
Émilie Heymans was born in Belgium but moved to Canada at a young age residing in the Saint Laurent suburb of Montreal. She competed in gymnastics as a child before making the transition to diving.
She is a veteran Olympian, winning medals in three consecutive Olympics, something achieved by only four other Canadian Olympians. She won an Olympic silver medal in the 2000 Sydney games (10m synchronized diving along with teammate Anne Montminy). In 2004 in Athens, Emilie proved herself again in the 10m synchronized diving event when she, along with her teammate Blythe Hartley, took home the bronze medal. Heymans won the silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in the 10m individual event.
In 2009 Emilie won the silver medal at the World Championships in Rome making a successful transition from the 10M platform to the 3M springboard. In 2011 at the World championships in Shanghai, Émilie with her partner Jennifer Abel, won the silver medal in the 3m synchro event.
