BY The Suburban

On Monday, 11-year-old Pointe Claire diving phenom Vincent Riendeau received a $1,500 bursary from the National Bank and the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence as part of the National Bank Bursary Program, which handed out bursaries to 28 amateur athletes.

While appreciative of the show of support, Riendeau says he enjoys diving for the sheer excitement of it, and any medals and accolades he receives along the way is a bonus.

“I was very happy, and I wasn’t expecting it. I’m just going to put it [the money] in the bank and save it for school,” he said, adding that the recognition will motivate him further in his quest to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

After a brief stint in gymnastics, Riendeau began his love affair with diving six years ago, at the urging of his neighbour, who noticed his fearless attitude.

“My neighbour said that I should start diving because I wasn’t afraid of heights,” he recalled with a chuckle. “I found it challenging, but easy at the same time. I started with simple dives, like front dives and back dives. You start with those dives, and I could jump, so it was easy for me.”

The aspect of diving that Riendeau says he derives the most pleasure from is the feeling of excitement, the butterflies in his stomach as he’s preparing to launch his body off the board or platform. Once in the air, however, he says he is extremely focused on the dive that he rarely feels any sensation until he hits the water.

“When I dive I just count the flips. I don’t really feel anything, not while I’m diving, while I’m in the air, but I usually [feel excited] before.”

Riendeau, a Grade 5 student at École Marguerite-Bourgeoys in Pointe Claire, normally practices after school at the Malcolm-Knox Aquatic Centre, five times a week, between one and a half to two hours each session.

He is a member of Diving Canada’s junior team, and describes his current season as “pretty much even”. He won two silver medals in the 1-metre and 3-metre category, and finished fourth on the 10-metre platform at the CAMO Invitational in December. At the Pan Am Jr. Championships in Puerto Rico in November he finished sixth and fourth in the 1-metre and 3-metre, respectively, and fourth in the 10-metre platform.

At the 2007 Speedo National Junior Championships he won gold on the 1-metre, 3-metre and 10-metre, and at the 2006 National Championships won gold on the 1-metre, 10-metre and bronze on the 3-metre.

He’s now gearing up for the end of the season, with three provincial meets coming up, and the national junior championships in Thunder Bay, Ont. in July. While he’s looking for the best possible results and to end the season on a positive note, he insists that while winning definitely motivates him, it does not necessarily drive him to continue diving.

----------------------------------------------------------------------