See thee rise: Canada is sending big names and new stars to Commonwealth Games
CBC
The Commonwealth Games may not carry the prestige of an Olympics, or even a world championship.
But it remains an important marker in every Canadian athlete's schedule — a lower-level test at a multi-sport competition that doubles as a barometer for when the stakes are a little higher.
Diving Canada's high-performance director Mitch Geller said there's much to be learned from the Commonwealth Games.
"It has been such an unveiling of future stars," he said.
Still, Geller said the Games are treated as a destination — not just part of the journey.
"We're hunting for as many medals as possible. We don't look at it just as a stepping stone, even though it can serve as that. We treat it as if it's not that different than an Olympic Games."
Canada is sending 272 athletes to compete in 18 sports and five Para sports from July 28 to Aug. 8 in Birmingham, England.
Daily live coverage will be available on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem, with 10 hours of additional weekend broadcast coverage hosted by Scott Russell and Andi Petrillo.
From new faces to big names, here are some Canadian athletes to watch:
Vallée, of Beaconsfield, Que., burst onto the scene at the world aquatics championships, where she earned a pair of medals, including three-metre springboard silver and 1m springboard bronze.
Geller said Vallée, 21, can improve to gold in Birmingham.
"Keep it as pure as possible and just focus on the activity itself rather than the sort of competitive side of it, meaning going in and really trying to display each and every individual component to the best of her ability," he said.
It'll be Vallée's first Commonwealth Games. She's never been to the Olympics.
Speaking of breakout aquatics stars, Liendo broke through in Budapest when he won three medals, including bronze in the individual 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly and as the lead racer in the mixed 4x100 freestyle relay.
