Bronze-medal finish 'a motivator' for Canadian diver McKay heading into Olympic year

Caeli McKay's bronze-medal performance at the World Aquatics Championships is still sinking in.

"I woke up this morning, I was like, 'did I dream that? Or did I actually do that yesterday?"' said the Canadian diver. "It was a crazy feeling. Just really proud."

The 24-year-old from Calgary finished third in the 10-metre platform event in Fukuoka, Japan, on Wednesday, claiming her first-ever medal at a world championships.

McKay had three consecutive strong dives to open the individual final, before putting a bit too much power on her fourth and scoring low.

On her fifth and final dive, she stayed focused despite knowing it would make or break her chance at a podium and scored a 76.80 — her highest of the day — to place only behind world-class Chinese divers Chen Yuxi and Quan Hongchen.

WATCH | Canada's McKay captures diving bronze:

"I felt a little bit numb, to be honest. I was so nervous," she said. "Hitting the water was just a rush of emotions and such a weight off my shoulders.

"Seeing my name top three, it was just surreal and I just started crying."

McKay, who made the Tokyo Games as a synchro diver, earned an individual spot in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by making the final a day earlier.

"I've been working really hard to put my name out there as an individual diver and really solidify that I am here and I deserve to be up in the top ranks," she said. "I feel very confident with myself now and I know that I can be up there with the Chinese divers.

"It's for sure a motivator... Feels like almost recognition that my hard work is paying off, so now I know that the hard work I'm going to do in the next year is going to you know pay off as well."

Earlier in the world championships, she finished eighth in the