June 21, 2008

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - University of Miami sophomore diver Reuben Ross will represent Canada in the three-meter springboard and 10-meter platform events at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China after earning a spot on the team at the Canadian trials in Victoria, B.C. over the weekend.

Ross won the trial's three-meter event with a score of 915.55, edging out Eric Sehn who came in with a mark of 901.10. He opened the finals with a score of 72.85 before back-to-back scores over 80 on his second and third dives. Scores of 76.50, 83.30 and 78.75 on his last three dives were enough to secure the first-place finish on berth on Canada's three-meter springboard team.

In the platform finals, Ross placed second with a mark of 901.65. In the final round, Ross scored dives of 81.00, 89.60, 70.40, 45.90, 49.50 and 93.50 to secure his spot in the platform at this summer's games. Riley McCormick, who won the platform with a score of 987.50, will join Ross on the team.

Alexandre Despatie, the silver medalist in the men's springboard in 2004, did not compete in the trials but has conditionally been selected as Canada's second Olympic representative. Despatie received the conditional pass to compete in Beijing as he continues to recover from a broken foot.

If Despatie is unable to compete at the Summer Games, Sehn will take his place by virtue of his second-place finish behind Ross on Friday.

Also over the weekend, Ross' teammates Brittany Viola and J.J. Kinzbach qualified for the selection camp for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Diving team, scheduled to take place July 2-6 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Olympic diving runs Aug. 9-23 in Beijing's National Aquatics Center.