Diver Meaghan Benfeito has Olympic medals returned after devastating fire
In February, Olympic diver Meaghan Benfeito lost all her possessions in a Mirabel fire, including her 3 Olympic medals.
The Montreal native medaled in the 2012 London Olympics and twice in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, among other high-level international competitions.
But all those trophies were lost when her condo went up in flames in a devastating fire.
“Medals don't always mean a lot to everybody, but to athletes, they mean absolutely everything It's years of hard work,” she said Tuesday.
It’s been an emotional year for the diver who shed a tear when presented with her new medals, recast and returned to her. The International Olympics Committee and the Canadian Olympics Committee worked hard to make this day happen.
"I wouldn’t be able to push through not only a difficult year but I think there’s been a bunch of things thrown at me. So thank you and I will do everything in my capability to win two more medals this summer so that we can celebrate even more,” she said, expressing gratitude to the committees and her family for their support.
She says this is another obstacle overcome, and she's ready for the next one. She is already fully vaccinated and qualified for the Tokyo games, her fourth Olympics.
Now, she’s just waiting for the word "go" to see if the games will begin.
“I come to do training, do what I have to do. If they're on, I'll be ecstatic, [but] if they're not, it's out of my control,” she said. “As long as I do whatever I have to do to be ready if they're on.”
She hopes to add to her collection, one she once thought was lost forever.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.