Canadian diver Mia Vallée wins bronze at world championships

It was a twisty journey for Canadian Mia Vallée to land on the podium.

The Beaconsfield, Que., diver captured bronze in the women’s one-metre springboard final at the world aquatic championships Wednesday in Budapest, Hungary.

Vallée only snuck up in the medal round, placing ninth in the morning prelims to advance to the women’s 12-man final less than four points clear of 13th place.

After four dives, eventual champion Li Yajie of China took control, edging the Canadian 10 points to take the lead.

And on the fifth and final dive, American Sarah Bacon conjured just enough to pass Vallée by five hundredths of a point and take silver.

Vallée finished the final to win bronze with 276.60 points, behind Bacon’s 276.65 points and Li’s insane total of 300.85 points.

This is the 21-year-old Vallee’s first career podium appearance at the world championships. She also won five medals on the Grand Prix circuit, but never competed in the Olympics.

Margo Erlam of Calgary was ninth with 246.10 points.

Wednesday’s world championship coverage will conclude with the women’s three-metre synchro springboard final at 1 p.m. ET.

The action continues Thursday with the men’s and women’s 25-kilometre open water swimming events at 3 a.m. ET, followed by the water polo semifinals starting at 10 a.m. ET and two more diving finals at 11 a.m. ET and 1 p.m. ET.

Water Worlds coverage continues daily through Sunday. Click the link below for a full schedule of events.

CBC Sports broadcast and broadcast schedule