Windsor athlete among divers competing for Canadian Olympic team spot this weekend

Maisy Woloszyn, 16, says she never could have imagined a summer camp eight years ago would lead her to competing for a spot on the Canadian Olympic diving team.

Woloszyn is the only Windsor athlete competing this weekend at the Windsor International Aquatic Training Centre at the Canadian Diving Trials, the competition that will determine who makes Canada's Olympic diving team ahead of the Paris Olympics this summer.

"You know, I'm not expecting like a huge thing, but I'm expecting to just go out there and have the experience behind my back," Woloszyn said ahead of her competition. "I'm here with so many amazing divers. They've been to the Olympics before, I've competed against them. But this is just on such a different level.

"This is in my hometown. Iget to have my parents here and it'ssuch a thrill."

The trials are ongoing all weekend, and feature almost 50 of Canada's top divers across a handful of events.

Competing at home means familiarity, Woloszyn said, and that her friends and family can come watch her compete Friday at 10 a.m., and on Sunday.

"Every pool is different. All the boards are different," she said. "Being able to be comfortable in my own pool, it's actually a lot better than I think a lot of people can say.

"My parents were just like, 'you've got this.' So they believe me."

Woloszyn's coachIoana Marinescustarted the Windsor Diving Club nearly eight years ago. The chance to see this competition happen in Windsor will inspire the next generation of divers, she said.

"This just makes us dream bigger and higher," Marinescusaid. "We have some little kids who are very excited and they have big dreams. Seems like nothing will stop them. So I think Maisy will be a good motivation for them."

And it's not the only time Windsor will play host to some of the top divers in the world: Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens announced that Windsor will host the Canada Cup, an international diving competition, in 2025-26.

"Sport tourism is so important to us and I always say never underestimate the power of sport to bring a community together," he said.

"Windsor has certainly made a name for itself in aquatics and we're so happy to host these events."