THUNDER BAY – Winning a gold medal in the moment is pretty cool, said London, Ont.’s Katie Buchel.
It could be even cooler 20 years down the road, the 16-year-old diver said on Saturday, after taking top spot in the girls’ one-metre springboard competition at Thunder Bay’s Canada Games Complex, kicking off the Ontario Winter Games in winning fashion.
“I think it’s going to feel amazing,” she said.
“I don’t know exactly what it’s going to mean in the future for me, but it definitely feels really good right now and if I have kids, I’m going to show them.”
While she came to Thunder Bay hoping to win, the southern Ontario teenager said she had her doubts, given past performances at high-level competitions and her current physical state.
“Going into the event I was really nervous. I’ve actually never won gold at any diving competition, ever. I was just trying to stay calm. My foot wasn’t good today. I’ve had an ongoing injury with my foot, so I was just trying to stay focused and do my dives the best that I could,” Buchel said.
Nicolas Bondy finished atop the podium in the boys’ event.
The 16-year-old hails from Caledon, Ont., and trains in Etobicoke. He said his second trip to an Ontario Winter Games feels pretty special.
“When my coach told me I could (compete) in the Ontario Winter Games, I was really thrilled and excited. I actually went a couple of years before, in 2018. I was really happy to relive this experience,” Bondy said.
Winning helps, he added.
“It feels great. My coach really pushes me to get my difficulty up there and I think that’s what pushed me over the top and got me the gold medal,” Bondy said.
Bondy edged Etobicoke teammate Matteo Rozzi 370.7 to 348.6. Rozzi took the silver medal and Carter Pfeffer took third with a score of 323.7.
The diving competition continues on Sunday.
