Canada's best divers will unite in Windsor for a shot at Olympic glory.
Some 50 divers from across the country will compete this weekend at the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre for the 2024 Canadian Diving Trials, determining who will dive for Team Canada at the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris.
The City of Windsor and Tourism Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island (TWEPI) also used the trials Wednesday to announce that Windsor will host the 2025 Canada Cup.
Mayor Drew Dilkens expects both diving events to solidify the region as a place to be for top sports competitions.
"This marks a monumental chapter for Windsor as a sporting community and a proud moment for our local diving club," said Dilkens. "It also reinforces Windsor and the surrounding region's status as a world-class sports tourism destination."
This will be the first time in history that Windsor hosts an aquatic Olympic trial.
At the trials, divers will compete in the one-metre springboard, three-metre springboard, and ten-metre platform events, for spots on the Canadian Olympic team.
Among the hopefuls is 16-year-old Windsor diver Maisy Woloszyn, who is looking forward to competing in her hometown.
"I'm more comfortable in this spot, but I'm competing against such great divers, it's like the calibre is a little bit different. But honestly, I'm just excited to be on my own turf," said Woloszyn.
The Canada Cup, which will take place in Windsor sometime in 2025, is an international competition. The 2024 edition in Calgary brought 70 competitors last weekend.
The Canada Cup will not be the first time a world-class diving event took place in Windsor. In December 2016, the FINA World Swimming Championships were held at the WFCU Centre.
Tickets to Friday's competition at the aquatic centre are free. For Saturday, general admission tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for youth aged 6 to 11. On Sunday, tickets are $22 for adults and $15 for youth.
VIP tickets, which include access to a VIP lounge and prime seating in the second grandstand, are $65 per person on Saturday and $75 on Sunday.