Diving World Cup in Montreal offers key international tune-up ahead of worlds

It may be the first major international event of the season for Canadian divers, but the pressure's already on.

The Diving World Cup in Montreal, which begins Friday, also represents the final international competition before the world championships in July — making it one of the last opportunities for 10 Canadian divers to make their case to head to Japan.

They'll reconvene in Toronto later in May for the national championships.

Live coverage of the World Cup will be available on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem through Sunday's individual finals.

The Canadian squad is highlighted by a pair of young stars in Mia Vallée, who broke through with two medals at 2022 worlds, and Caeli McKay, who finished in an agonizing fourth place at the Tokyo Olympics.

Vallée, the 22-year-old from Beaconsfield, Que., became the first Canadian woman to win multiple medals at worlds when the springboard specialist took bronze in the 1-metre and silver in the 3m.

WATCH | Vallée captures silver at worlds:

While the 1m, which isn't an Olympic event, won't be contested in Montreal, Vallée will dive in the individual and synchronized 3m events. In the latter, she'll team with Pamela Ware, the two-time Olympian from Greenfield Park, Que., and long-time partner of the now-retired Jennifer Abel.

McKay, 23, fell less than a point short of the 10m synchronized Olympic podium mere weeks after tearing multiple ligaments around her ankle. The quick return to sport also caused some longer lingering effects throughout 2022 for the Calgary native, who finally underwent surgery in October.

Now, McKay will head to Montreal with a new synchro partner in 17-year-old Kate Miller. She'll also compete in the individual 10m event.

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