Canadian divers Benfeito, McKay just miss podium at aquatics worlds
New duo joined forces in 10m synchro platform this season
The Canadian pair of Meaghan Benfeito and Caeli McKay earned a fourth-place finish in the women's 10-metre synchro final at the world aquatics championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday.
Jajie Si and Qian Ren of China took gold with a total score of 352.56, North Korea's Mi Rae Kim and Kuk Hyang Kim placed second with 336.48 and Pandelela Pamg and Jun Hoong Cheong of Malaysia rounded out the podium with 328.74 points.
Benfeito and McKay tallied 315.78 points and moved up from fifth on their last dive.
Benfeito, who is competing in her seventh world championships, had considered retirement when longtime partner Roseline Filion called it a career after Rio, but instead decided to team up with McKay.
Benfeito, 28, is a three-time Olympic medallist but has yet to win a world title, having earned silver two years ago in both the women's and mixed 10m synchro platform.
McKay, 18, put her individual aspirations on hold this season to focus on her new 10m synchro partnership with Benfeito.
The pair won World Series silver in Russia at the end of March and placed fourth in the 10m synchro in Gatineau, Que., in April.
China earns 6th-straight title
Earlier Sunday, Peng Jianfeng won a sixth straight title for China in the men's 1m springboard diving competition.
Peng led from the first round and finished with a forward 2-1/2 somersaults 1 twist pike in the sixth for a total of 448.40 points, edging teammate He Chao by 1.20 points.
Italy's Giovanni Tocci claimed bronze with 444.25, ahead of Germany's Patrick Hausding and American Mike Hixon, who won bronze in 2015. Peng's victory ensured Chinese divers have won nine of the 12 men's 1-meter springboard titles at the worlds.
with files from The Associated Press