Vincent Riendeau

Biography

Vincent Riendeau won his first junior national titles in 2006 before sweeping all three boards (1m, 3m, 10m) in 2007, a feat he matched in 2011. His podium success at the junior nationals includes a total of 13 gold medals. Riendeau made two appearances at the FINA World Junior Championships in 2010 and 2012. After making his senior national debut in 2011, he earned his first medal at the 2013 Winter Nationals, winning 10m bronze. That gained him entry into international Grand Prix events. He also gained multi-sport experience in 2013, competing at the Canada Games where he won gold in the 3m synchro and silver in the individual 1m and 10m events.

In 2014 he won 10m silver at both the winter and senior nationals, getting him into his first FINA World Series event as well as the biennial FINA World Cup. At the 2014 Commonwealth Games he was Canada’s only male diver to reach the podium, winning bronze in the 10m while defeating 2008 Olympic champion Matthew Mitcham of Australia. He captured another 10m bronze at his second  Commonwealth Games in 2018.

Riendeau came close to his first FINA World Series medals in 2015 in the men’s 10m synchro when he and Philippe Gagné finished fourth  in Dubai and Merida. Later that summer, he and Gagné won 10m synchro silver at the Pan Am Games in Toronto where he was also Canada’s top finisher in the men’s 10m platform, placing fifth. In his senior world championship debut in 2015, he won silver in the non-Olympic mixed 10m synchro event with Meaghan Benfeito. At his first Olympic Games, Riendeau advanced to the semifinals of the 10m event at Rio 2016, missing the final by just two places.

In 2019, Riendeau teamed up with Nathan Zsombor-Murray to compete in the men’s 10m synchro. They won their first medal together, a silver, at the Grand Prix in Calgary. They also won silver at the Lima 2019 Pan Am Games where Riendeau won an individual 10m bronze. He also had a strong individual result at the 2019 FINA World Championships, advancing to the final to secure an Olympic quota spot for Canada in the men’s 10m platform.

In February 2020, Riendeau and Zsombor-Murray won World Series bronze in Montreal where he also posted his best individual 10m World Series result, finishing fourth. In May 2021, at their first competition since the COVID-19 pandemic started, Riendeau and Zsombor-Murray won bronze at the FINA World Cup to secure their spot at Tokyo 2020 in the 10m synchro event. In his second Olympic appearance, Riendeau finished fifth in the 10m synchro event with Zsombor-Murray.

A Little More About Vincent

Getting into the Sport: Started diving at age 6… Was introduced to the sport by a neighbor and loved it from the start… Outside Interests: Enjoys playing video games, reading, golfing, boating… Odds and Ends: Had Olympic dream sparked by watching Alex Despatie and Émilie Heymans win their Olympic medals at Beijing 2008… Role models are Alex Despatie and 2012 Olympic gold medallist Cao Yuan… Favourite quote: “If there is no enemy within, the enemy outside can do you no harm.” – African proverb…