COMTOIS RETURNS TO INTERNATIONAL WATERS AT CANADA CUP GRAND PRIX MEET MAY 4-6 IN MONTREAL

MONTREAL-Courage is an important factor in the success of a top-level diver, therefore it should be hardly surprising that Montreal's Philippe Comtois appears on his way to a remarkable recovery from a serious injury which cost him a chance to compete at the 2000 Olympic Games.

Comtois and 14 other Canadian national team members- including Olympic silver medallist Emily Heymans of Montreal and Alexandre Despatie of Laval Que., are here to compete at the 11-country Canada Cup diving meet which runs from Friday to Sunday at the Claude-Robillard Centre. It's the fourth stop on the Grand Prix circuit and is also one of three qualifying meets for the world aquatic championships this summer.

It was just over a year ago at a Grand Prix meet in Sheffield, England that Comtois shattered his left leg in warm-up on the three-metre springboard. He broke his femur bone and three of the four ligaments were torn. He underwent two major surgeries lasting more than five hours each and surgeons wondered if he would walk normally again. The eight-time national champion and Canada's most successful international springboard diver was forced to watch the Olympics on TV.

Two weeks after the Olympics he returned to the pool to start training for the upcoming season. He made his post-injury competitive debut last month at the winter nationals and won the bronze medal on three-metres.

"I was determined to try and make a comeback," said Comtois, who is getting married next month. "To me I was just doing my job but looking back from where I came from, it's unbelievable that I can dive again. I had to learn to push with my right leg instead of my left which is like trying to write with your left hand instead of your right. The leg is not 100 percent but it's keeping up with the rest of my body. I'm going step-by-step and my training is going so well I think I can make the world team."

All five diving superpowers are here: Canada, China, Germany, U.S., and Russia. Among the stars are Olympic medallists Sang Xue and Hu Jia of China, Heiko Meyer and Jan Hempel of Germany and Robert Newberry and Loudy Tourky of Australia.

Canadian Olympic team members at the meet are Despatie, Heymans, Jeff Liberty of Calgary, Arturo Miranda of Edmonton, Christopher Kalec of Montreal and Blythe Hartley of North Vancouver, B.C. Double Olympic medallist Anne Montminy of Pointe-Claire, Que., has taken a break from competition this season.

Other Canadian team members are Myriam Boileau, Marie-Eve Marleau and Alida DiPlacido of Montreal, Megan Farrow of Edmonton, Laura Knowles of Ottawa, Caroline Lauzon of St-Paul-de-Joliette, Que., for the women and Kevin Geyson of Winnipeg and Nicolas Leblanc of Montreal for the men.

"We have a very strong team," said Canadian national team coach Mitch Geller of Victoria. "Canada will be medal contenders in all events and that speaks highly of our depth."

For the first time ever cash prizes are on the line with Speedo awarding $750 to the winners, $500 for second place and $250 for third spot.

Competition starts at 10 a.m. each day with finals starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5.00 on Friday and $7.00 on Saturday and Sunday and can be purchased at the door.

Canada Cup FINA Grand Prix diving meet:

Friday May 4

10 a.m.: women's three-metre preliminaries and semifinals

1:30 p.m.: Men's 10m preliminaries and semifinals

7 p.m. opening ceremonies and men's three-metre synchro final.

8 p.m.: women's three-metre synchro final.

Saturday May 5

10 a.m.: women's 10-metre preliminaries and semifinals

5:30 p.m.: women's three-metre final

7 p.m.: men's 10-metre final.

Sunday May 6

10 a.m.: men's three-metre preliminaries and semifinals

1:30 p.m.:men's three-metre final

3:30 p.m.: women's 10-metre final.

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