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"I think I did OK, but I know I can do my dives better than I did," said Wanner, who underwent gall bladder surgery just two weeks prior to the meet. "I'm happy to have the experience." Although the Bellevue Avenue resident had only trained for the one metre, a last minute change allowed her into the three metre event, she explained. "(Canada) has some of the best divers in the world, that was a little intimidating, but it was fun," she said. Wanner, 20, a former artistic gymnast who competed for Canada at the international level, was the Canadian champion on the balance beam in 1994. She turned to diving after retiring from gymnastics and missed qualifying for the Under 18 Nationals by just two points after being in the sport for just five months. "I'm kind of old for gymnastics," Wanner said in an earlier interview at the University of Toronto Athletic Centre pool where she trains. "I felt I'd had enough, I trained 40 hours a week for eight years." In September she will enter into her third year of sociology/psychology double major at the U of T with the hope of one day becoming a sports psychologist. "I'd like to be able to help athletes," said Wanner who was sidelined for several months earlier this year after undergoing surgery for a wrist injury caused by the constant pounding she took in gymnastics. Although her rise through the ranks has been swift, Wanner admits it will be a while before she reaches the top of the diving world, and a possible scholarship at an American University to finish her education. "I think I have a good chance at a Division 2 school," she said. "But in diving I'm not there yet. I have a long way to go." And with the summer nationals now behind her Wanner is now starting to train for the winter nationals this February in Etobicoke, and her ultimate goal of competing at the international level. "Hopefully next year I'll qualify and place a little better in the nationals to improve my ranking," she said. |
