|
Philippe Comtois Seriously Injured |
|---|
web site on March 18, 2000
SHEFFIELD, England, March 17, 2000
Canada's top male diver Philippe Comtois of Montreal broke his left leg in warm-up before the men's three-metre springboard final Friday at a Grand Prix diving meet.
His hopes to win an Olympic medal this September have vanished and his career is in jeopardy as well.
"All his knee ligaments on the left side of the leg are torn," said Comtois' coach Michel Larouche of Montreal. "The femur bone is broken near the knee and a part of the nerve has been affected as well but they don't know how much. They'll only know through surgery. He has lost feeling in his foot which is not a good sign."
A decision will be made likely on Saturday whether Comtois will undergo surgery in Sheffield or in Canada. The leg will require several surgeries over the next few weeks to repair the damage.
The accident happened five minutes before the men's three-metre final. Comtois slammed his leg on the board attempting a reverse two and half with one and half twists.
"I can't imagine what's going through his head right now," said Larouche.
Comtois, 23, has steadily improved in his seven years with the national team to become Canada's most successful male diver. The springboard specialist registered Canada's best ever international result placing seventh at the 1998 world championships. He has won eight national titles and was Canada's surest bet to make the Olympic team at what promises to be a highly-competitive trials in June. He is also one Canada's top 10-metre tower divers as well.
There was some good news for Canada Friday. Emilie Heymans of Montreal earned a silver medal for the second consecutive Grand Prix meet on women's 10-metre.
Competition continues Saturday.
web site on March 19, 2000
SHEFFIELD, England
Philippe Comtois of Montreal, who broke his left leg warming up for the men's three-metre final at the fourth stop on the FINA Grand Prix diving meet on Friday will undergo surgery here on Monday.
Comtois, Canada's top male diver, will remain at least one more week in Sheffield. The 23-year-old's parents and girlfriend are scheduled to arrive on Sunday. His season and Olympic medal hopes are gone.
"His spirit is still very good despite everything," said Canadian national team coach Michel Larouche of Montreal, who developed Comtois into one of the world's best springboard divers. "I'm sure though it'll be hard once his family arrives tomorrow."
The accident happened five minutes before the men's three-metre final on Friday. Comtois, an eight-time national champion, slammed his leg on the board attempting a reverse two and half with one and half twists. He tore all the ligaments on the left side of the knee, broke the femur bone at the knee and may have suffered some nerve damage. He was fitted with a full leg cast.
"They'll repair the ligaments perhaps do more in the first operation Monday," said Larouche. "His year is over and obviously we have no idea yet whether he'll pursue a career in diving afterwards."
In Saturday's competition at the pool, China continued its domination winning gold medals on both the men's 10-metre and women's three-metre to complete a golden sweep of all four Olympic individual events.
On women's three-metre, Fu Minxia of China took the gold with 525.78 points. Ditte Kotzian of Germany was second at 520.05 and Anna Lindberg of Sweden third at 512.04.
Double world junior champion Blythe Hartley of North Vancouver, B.C., followed in fourth spot at 491.34. Myriam Boileau of Montreal was eliminated in the semifinal and Emilie Heymans of Montreal, second on tower Friday, was ousted in the preliminaries.
On men's 10-metre tower, Kai Qin of China was the winner at 661.89. Leon Taylor of Britain was second at 635.73 and Jing Hui Yeng of China third at 620.67.
Alexandre Despatie, 14, of Montreal had a solid performance placing sixth at 563.40. With the result, Despatie has now earned the maximum bonus points he can add to his performance at the Olympic trials in June in Montreal.
Jeff Liberty of Calgary withdrew after placing 10th in the preliminaries with a sore back.
Competition ends Sunday with men's and women's one-metre but Canada has no entries.
March 20, 2000
Bad things often happen to good people, and this morning proof is lying flat on its back in a hospital bed in Sheffield, England, where eight-time Canadian diving champion Philippe Comtois of Laval is nursing a left leg that's shattered almost as completely as his 2000 Olympic dream.
The 23-year-old springboard specialist from Montreal's CAMO club was a lock to qualify for Canada's team to Sydney at the trials to be held in early June at Centre Claude Robillard, his home pool.
But on Friday, Comtois crashed into the board while warming up for a Grand Prix meet in Sheffield, breaking his left leg and suffering nerve damage that not only has ended his hopes for Sydney, but threatens his diving career.
He likely will require multiple surgeries, beginning with an operation today to repair major ligament tears and examine the nerves.
Comtois's parents and his girlfriend, Christiane Letendre, have flown to Sheffield, where the diver is expected to remain for at least a week.
"His spirit is still very good, despite everything," said his CAMO coach, Michel Larouche. Added Letendre, who on Friday spoke with Comtois by phone: "If he's feeling down, you can't tell by his voice."
Comtois had shelved his full-time university studies this year so he could train 23-plus hours a week, intent on improving his 16th-place Atlanta Games finish. He is a pleasant, engaging and supremely focused athlete, a role model for both young and veteran athletes who admire his tenacity in a demanding and punishing sport.
Friday's accident was a cruel blow to his aspirations, but during his 14 years in diving, Comtois has shown great resolve in overcoming many challenges. He expects this one will be no different, so be surprised only if he is not at the Athens Olympics in 2004.
Page reviewed on March 20, 2000 by
