Former diver Meaghan Benfeito admits straight away: it took a lot more courage to execute a three-and-a-half back flip from the 10m platform than to talk about bladder leaks.
• Also read: Athlete of the year in Quebec thanks to “the resilience medal”
Benfeito, retired since 2022 and now a young mother, is not keen to make incontinence her new hobby horse, but when she was approached as a spokesperson for a campaign powered by TENA products, she clearly wanted to talk about it.
“For me, it’s not a problem, and it happens to more people than you think,” she says.
The subject still remains taboo in 2025. However, many high-level athletes are affected by what is called stress urinary incontinence. This is often caused by abdominal muscles that are more developed than the perineal muscles.
“When we jumped on the trampoline, when we warmed up or ran, it could happen,” says the woman who notably teamed up for several years with Roseline Filion in synchronized events. We laughed about it.”
A subject to normalize
If she dares to broach the subject, it is because Benfeito knows very well that such situations can also cause anxiety in young athletes.
“The more we talk about it, the more we make people feel at ease,” she summarizes.
At first glance interviewed as part of a report identifying her as the athlete of the year in Quebec in 2024, trampolinist Sophiane Méthot was in the same direction.
“We experience urinary leakage frequently,” says Méthot. In fact, some athletes live with this issue, others do not. The goal is to try to talk about it as openly as possible and to normalize everything. We shouldn’t be ashamed of that, and I think we’re on the right track. Simply talking about it helps to calm down.”
“It happens to everyone”
In the past, some athletes have changed or completely stopped their sports practice due to stress urinary incontinence. Talking about it will undoubtedly help prevent such situations from recurring.
“I don’t understand why they say that people are weak when they have urinary leaks,” concludes Benfeito. The more people you talk to, the more you realize that it happens to everyone. It’s everywhere, we just need to talk about it.”
Meaghan Benfeito wants to be in Los Angeles in 2028
Now aged 35, Meaghan Benfeito does not regret having retired from diving in 2022, but she admits to having suffered last year while watching the Paris Olympic Games on television. Without considering a return to competition, the young mother hopes to be there, in Los Angeles, in 2028.
“I’ll wear a mascot costume if necessary,” she says, laughing.
More concretely, Benfeito sees himself in the role of mentor for the next generation. She also continues to carefully follow the exploits of Canada’s young divers. Among Quebecers, she is particularly keeping an eye on Arnaud Corbeil and Samuel Talbot, among many others. She also applauds the bronze medal obtained by the young Claude-Olivier Lisé-Coderre at his first Junior World Championships, last November, in Brazil. The latter actually climbed onto the third step of the podium in the 10m event among 14-15 year olds.
“If I’m needed, I want them to know I’m here,” she says.
Proud of Caeli McKay
Regarding the Paris Games, Benfeito mentions being particularly proud of her former synchro partner Caeli McKay who, with a score of 364.50 points, finished in fourth place.
“I am very proud of Caeli, she was able to perform well. It’s very, very difficult to be a fourth place finisher when you nail all your dives. In my eyes, Caeli was my gold medal.”
Caeli McKay at the Paris Olympic Games, August 6, 2024.
Photo MANAN VASTYAYANA
At the Tokyo Olympics, Benfeito and McKay teamed up in the 10m synchro event, finishing fourth. The Quebecer, who has three Olympic medals in her career, was in her fourth and final Games. At least, as an athlete.
