Myriam Boileau isn't ready to give up on her Olympic dream. Incredibly, she's been one of Canada's top international divers for 10 years yet has never competed at the Games. At both the 1996 and 2000 Canadian team trials she was edged out for a spot in very close competitions, a reflection of Canada's depth in the event. However Boileau and Heymans enter the trials this year as the class of the field on women's tower by a wide margin.
She faced another major hurdle when a back injury felled her after the 2002 Commonwealth Games. The pain became unbearable and she could hardly walk. Boileau underwent surgery in December of that year. She was diagnosed with two herniated discs.
Boileau has an interesting strategy in this Olympic year. Her diving list is not as difficult as those of Heymans and the top Chinese and Russian divers. Therefore for her to win a medal she'll need a strong performance and hope some top names cracks under the pressure.
She won Canada's first World Cup title in 1997 and Canada's first gold for a woman at the prestigious German Grand Prix in 1999. The pool at College Regina-Assumpta was renamed la piscine Myriam-Boileau in November 1998. Her brother Patrick played 16 games this year for the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins.
