Three-time world champion diver Alexandre Despatie of Laval, Que., confirmed on Wednesday that he has dropped the 10-metre tower event for this season to focus solely on three-metre springboard and the three-metre synchro events for the Beijing Olympics.

Despatie is in Regina this week for the Winter Nationals diving competition which runs this Thursday to Sunday (March 6-9) at the Lawson Aquatic Centre. Despatie, the world champion on tower in 2003, is following the trend of the most of the world’s top divers.

‘’The top-guys in the world now pretty much focus on one board,’’ said Despatie, 22, who has battled neck and back problems which have affected his 10-metre training the past few seasons. ‘’Plus I hadn’t trained at the same level this season on tower.’’

Most recently Despatie skipped the tower event at the FINA World Cup last month in Beijing. At the World Cup he won bronze on three-metre synchro with partner Arturo Miranda of Pointe-Claire, Que., and was fifth on three-metre. He made the decision to drop the 10-metre after the World Cup.

‘’It was a tough decision. But I’m pursuing my dream to win an Olympic gold medal and after discussing with my coach and family, I feel my best shot is to put all my energy in the three-metre and three-metre synchro events.’’