Jennifer Abel

Jennifer Abel, born on August 23, 1991, in Montreal, Quebec, began her diving career at the age of five, following her brother into the sport. She quickly showed promise, competing in her first event at six. By 2006, Abel made her senior international debut at the FINA Grand Prix in Madrid, securing a silver medal in 10m synchro. Her rapid ascent continued, leading to her surprise qualification for the Beijing 2008 Olympic team at just 16 years old, making her one of Canada’s youngest Olympic divers. Although she didn’t medal in Beijing, this marked the beginning of a distinguished career.

Abel’s collaboration with diving legend Émilie Heymans proved fruitful, yielding multiple Grand Prix medals and culminating in an Olympic bronze medal at the London 2012 Games in the 3m synchro springboard event. This historic win made them the first Canadians to medal at those Games. Following the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she experienced fourth-place finishes in both solo and synchro 3m springboard events, Abel partnered with Mélissa Citrini-Beaulieu. This new partnership quickly achieved success, including a silver medal at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships. Her achievements at the World Championships, totaling ten medals (six silver, four bronze), established her as the most decorated Canadian diver at this event.

Over a fifteen-year international career, Jennifer Abel competed in four Olympic Games, five FINA World Championships, three Pan American Games, and three Commonwealth Games. She amassed 130 international medals, showcasing her consistent performance at the highest levels of the sport. Her career culminated at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, where she and Mélissa Citrini-Beaulieu earned a silver medal in the 3m synchro springboard. Renowned for her powerful dives, including the rare ‘double twist’ typically performed by men, Abel officially retired after the Tokyo Olympics, leaving a significant legacy in Canadian diving.