Congratulations Hailey!

Hailey Casper holding her award.

A big congrats to Hailey Casper, who was recognized as the 2009 Alberta Junior Female Athlete of the Year for diving! Our dive tank may be closed for 2010, but Hailey has always been a fixture on our dive tower. She belongs to Dive Calgary, one of Talisman Centre's valued Sport Partners.

The award was bestowed by the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks & Wildlife Foundation, and is in recognition of the Hailey's many remarkable achievements in her sport. She distinguished herself in a number of national and international competitions last year, including a bronze medal in three-metre synchro diving at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, along with her synchro partner Mandy Moran. (The pair snagged another bronze medal in the three-metre synchro event at the FINA Canada Cup in Montreal.)

Hailey won the gold medal at the Junior Nationals in Victoria last July, and was the Team Alberta flag bearer at the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island, where she won another gold medal and set a Canada Games record with 290.55 points. She placed an impressive fifth against the best divers from eight countries at the Junior Pan Am Championships held at Talisman Centre last year.

Hailey is an immensely talented diver, with her sights set on a spot on the Canadian National Team. We can't wait to have her back diving in Talisman Centre, and wish her continued success!