2004 Olympic Silver Medalist Alexadre Despatie

Alexandre Despatie became a sensation at the age of 13 when won a gold medal on platform at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He competed two years later in the Sydney Olympics as the youngest member of the Canadian Olympic delegation, finishing fourth on platform. He would return to the Olympics four years later and earn silver on springboard. The following year in Montreal, Alexandre accomplished what no other diver had done to that point, nor has done since - he became the first diver to be world champion on one-meter, three-meter, and platform.

Despite having success on platform, Alexandre has chosen to concentrate on the springboard events for Beijing. He will compete individually in the three-meter springboard, and with Arturo Miranda in the synchronized springboard.

Up until July, there was a question as to whether Alexandre would even be able to dive in Beijing. While warming up prior to a workout in April, he fractured a bone in his foot. He began training again in June and was granted provisional status on the Canadian Olympic team, allowing him to miss the Canadian Olympic Trials. He proved his competitive readiness in early July and is officially a member of the team. But is he truly healthy?

Provided Alexandre is healthy, he will be a real threat to medal. He finished second on springboard, and synchronized springboard, at the 2007 World Championships. At the 2008 World Cup in February, he finished fifth in springboard and third in synchronized springboard. He looms as a serious threat to break the Chinese grip on springboard gold – and the Chinese know it!