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Calgary diver Caeli McKay certainly knows heartbreak.

For the third time in as many Olympic events, the 25-year-old star finished in fourth spot — just one place off the podium.

On Tuesday, that shortfall came in the 10-metre individual platform showcase at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.

“I’ve always had the dream of a medal,” McKay told CBC just moments after the event. “Unfortunately, I’m really good at getting fourth.

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“But I was happy and felt just pure joy after my last dive, because I did what I came here to do in my event,” continued McKay. “I was focused on myself. I can’t control anybody else. The three before me dove better, but I did as good as I could do and I did the best that I have done this whole trip. So I’m really really happy.”

McKay put herself into medal contention by moving up from eighth to fourth on her third dive but couldn’t pass eventual bronze medallist Kim Mi-rae, of North Korea, despite a sparkling finish.

Her fourth dive, an inward with three-and-half somersaults in a tuck position, was a beauty.

“I was shaking,” McKay said. “I knew that it was make or break. It’s always a make-or-break dive for me. I was really happy that I figured it out in the Olympic final. Not very often with a dive that you struggle with your whole career do you pull it out in the Olympic final. But I’m really happy with that dive especially.”

As expected, China finished with the top two medals as Quan Hongchan won gold and Chen Yuxi took silver.

McKay said finishing fourth again “is definitely not easy to take,” but was proud of her performance that put the pressure on Kim.

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McKay finished with 364.50 points, just eight back of the podium.

Kim was the bronze medallist with 372.10.

Quan and Chen dove to respective 425.60 and 420.70 scores.

“Finishing fourth when you performed really well is not a bad thing at all,” said McKay, a Dive Calgary graduate who moved to Montreal to train full-time at age 16. “Finishing fourth when you gave your all, without holding back, without any major errors … I did everything I could.”

Her performance on Day 11 came just a few days after teaming up with Ottawa’s Kate Miller to finish fourth in the 10m synchronized event. The Canadian duo finished just points shy of the podium.

And at the Tokyo Games three years ago, McKay and Meaghan Benfeito just a half-point short of bronze in the 10m synchro.

Tough stuff.

“I showed my strength, and I showed the work that I’ve put in the past three years,” McKay said. “And I was finally able to do it on my own in an individual event at the Olympics, so I’m really really proud of myself.

“I’ll take a mental break,” added McKay, telling Postmedia. “I’m motivated. I love diving. Right now, I’m on vacation. I will walk in the closing ceremonies. I’ll be cheering on my teammates and go have a nice dinner with my family and enjoy the atmosphere being in Paris — a once-in-a-lifetime trip for all of us.

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“I’m going to go appreciate it.”

Also among locals on Day 11 at the Games:

• Calgary’s Rae Lekness and Canada lost 18-8 in women’s water polo quarterfinal action, ending their Games experience.

Veteran Lekness had a goal and an assist in the wrap-up contest.

• In team artistic swimming, Calgary’s Jamie Czarkowski and the United States finished second in the free routine with 360.2688 points. Only China was better with 398.8917. The score keeps Czarkowski and the Americans in second spot, 69.42 points behind China through two days of competition.

Calgary’s Jonnie Newman and Canada sit sixth in the team event heading into the final day. They have 606.1662 total points — 106.2793 back of top spot — after a seventh-best technical routine of 277.8304 points Monday and a fifth-best free routine of 343.6854 points Tuesday.

The team event wraps up with the acrobatic routines Wednesday, after which medals will be handed out.

— With files from The Canadian Press

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