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March 18, 2000

NORTH VANCOUVER'S HARTLEY FOURTH AT DIVING GRAND PRIX

SHEFFIELD, England-- Philippe Comtois of Montreal, who broke his left leg warming up for the men's three-metre final at the fourth stop on the FINA Grand Prix diving meet on Friday will undergo surgery here on Monday.

Comtois, Canada's top male diver, will remain at least one more week in Sheffield. The 23-year-old's parents and girlfriend are scheduled to arrive on Sunday. His season and Olympic medal hopes are gone.

"His spirit is still very good despite everything," said Canadian national team coach Michel Larouche of Montreal, who developed Comtois into one of the world's best springboard divers. "I'm sure though it'll be hard once his family arrives tomorrow."

The accident happened five minutes before the men's three-metre final on Friday. Comtois, an eight-time national champion, slammed his leg on the board attempting a reverse two and half with one and half twists. He tore all the ligaments on the left side of the knee, broke the femur bone at the knee and may have suffered some nerve damage. He was fitted with a full leg cast.

"They'll repair the ligaments perhaps do more in the first operation Monday," said Larouche. "His year is over and obviously we have no idea yet whether he'll pursue a career in diving afterwards."

Canadian Sport News (CSN)
Nouvelles-Sport Canadien (NSC)
des Chouettes Lane, Orléans, ON, Canada, K1C 7E6, (t) 613-824-9475, (f) 613-834-8943
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/csnweb/

March 17, 2000

COMTOIS SERIOUSLY INJURED AT DIVING MEET

SHEFFIELD, England-- Canada's top male diver Philippe Comtois of Montreal broke his left leg in warm-up before the men's three-metre springboard final Friday at a Grand Prix diving meet.

His hopes to win an Olympic medal this September have vanished and his career is in jeopardy as well.

"All his knee ligaments on the left side of the leg are torn," said Comtois' coach Michel Larouche of Montreal. "The femur bone is broken near the knee and a part of the nerve has been affected as well but they don't know how much. They'll only know through surgery. He has lost feeling in his foot which is not a good sign."

A decision will be made likely on Saturday whether Comtois will undergo surgery in Sheffield or in Canada. The leg will require several surgeries over the next few weeks to repair the damage.

The accident happened five minutes before the men's three-metre final. Comtois slammed his leg on the board attempting a reverse two and half with one and half twists.

"I can't imagine what's going through his head right now," said Larouche.

Comtois, 23, has steadily improved in his seven years with the national team to become Canada's most successful male diver. The springboard specialist registered Canada's best ever international result placing seventh at the 1998 world championships. He has won eight national titles and was Canada's surest bet to make the Olympic team at what promises to be a highly-competitive trials in June. He is also one Canada's top 10-metre tower divers as well.

There was some good news for Canada Friday. Emilie Heymans of Montreal earned a silver medal for the second consecutive Grand Prix meet on women's 10-metre.

Competition continues Saturday.