Article

Sylvie Bernier

Published Online August 5, 2008

Last Edited March 4, 2015

Sylvie Bernier, diver (b at Québec C 31 Jan 1964). Bernier was introduced to diving at age 9 by her older brother, who brought her along to his lessons for company. She took to diving immediately and within 2 years had won
Bernier, Sylvie
Diver Sylvie Bernier, gold medallist in the 3 m springboard event. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, she won Canada's first gold in Olympic diving and the first-ever for a female athlete from Québec (courtesy Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, www.sportshall.ca).

Bernier, Sylvie

Sylvie Bernier, diver (b at Québec C 31 Jan 1964). Bernier was introduced to diving at age 9 by her older brother, who brought her along to his lessons for company. She took to diving immediately and within 2 years had won her first regional championship. Years later, she went on to win a silver medal in the 3 m springboard DIVING event at the 1982 COMMONWEALTH GAMES in Brisbane, Australia (478.83 points), a bronze at the 1983 WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES (462.48 points) and a bronze at the 1983 PANAMERICAN GAMES (473.97 points). Sylvie Bernier finished first at the Fort Lauderdale International (506.52 points) in May 1984 and continued her rapid improvement to win a gold medal in the 3 m springboard diving event (530.70 points) at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics - Canada's first gold medal in Olympic diving, and the first Olympic gold medal for a female athlete from Québec. In December 1984 she retired from competitive diving. Sylvie Bernier was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1985 and is a member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.