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Emilie Heymans
Age: 30
Sport: Diving
Trains: 5 hours a day
Hometown: Montreal
Emilie Heymans will make more than a splash if she medals again: She could become the first Canadian athlete to stand on the podium at four straight Summer Olympics. "Competing is in my blood. My parents were high-level athletes, too," she says.
Why this sport: "Nailing a perfect dive is such a thrill."
On her diving partner, Jennifer Abel: "We have similar rhythm. so it makes working together easy."
Fave post-exercise fuel: "Fresh fruit with cottage cheese."
From diver to designer: "I just finished my degree in fashion merchandising, and I’m working on a bathing suit line."
Goals for London: "This will probably be my last Olympics. I want to enjoy them and make sure I have no regrets. Hopefully I’ll get on the podium for a forth time!"
Top workout tip: "When I’ve nailed a good dive, it’s such a great feeling. I’ve been training for these moments for 25 hours a week, every week, since I was seven years old. I think it’s important to find a challenge and work hard for it, day in and day out."
Her award-winning advice: "Focus on what you can control. Ignore everything else."
Jennifer Abel
Age: 20
Sport: Diving
Trains: 5 hours a day
Hometown: Laval, Que.
One of Canada's youngest-ever divers, Jennifer Abel made her Olympic debut at 16 in 2008. She keeps her workouts fresh with weight training, ballet and a little Zumba on Xbox Kinect.
Why this sport: "I love the adrenaline rush and connecting with my body in new ways."
On her diving partner, Emilie Heymans: "We have a special connection. I like how calm she is."
Speedy recovery trick: "Lots of sleep, around nine hours, keeps me in shape for training."
Top workout tip: "Don’t be afraid of going outside your comfort zone and trying something new."
Diet: "I’m not a big vegetable person. It’s usually rice, lean meats and fruits for me."
Fave snack: Mango.
Her motto: "Do what you love and love what you do."
Her award-winning advice: "Never give less than 100 percent in all that you do."
See more Olympic bios and inspiration here.
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