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Diving Canada has 'only praise' for Windsor after FINA event

The FINA Diving World Series has wrapped up its 2nd annual visit to Windsor.

Chinese athletes dominated the event, taking nine of the 10 gold medals.

Sunday, Canadians Meaghan Benefeito and Vincent Riendeau captured silver medal in the mixed 10-metre synchronized event.

Canada also took three bronze medals on the weekend.

Mitch Geller, with Diving Canada, says FINA event could generate new interest in the sport locally.

"I'm hoping that the future of diving is big in Windsor. We're looking to start a team here, Geller said. "We're going to continue working with the City of Windsor because we have absolutely only praise for everybody that we've worked with so far."

Geller says the facility in Windsor surpasses some of the higher-profile cities.

"The teams actually enjoy diving in Windsor, probably more than they do in the Beijing Olympic Pool or the London Olympic Pool, because the crowd's in close," Geller said. "It's a little bit more intimate feel and everybody feels that they're so welcome here."

Vincent Riendeau is an 18-year-old diver from Montreal, who competed in three events over the course of the weekend.

"It's special, because it's at home and we've got the crowd on our side and I'm excited to have them cheer for us, and to have everybody here is amazing and heartwarming," he said.

Windsor will host the event again next year, along with the FINA 25-metre World Swimming Championships.

Diving Canada plans to have its Windsor team running by September.