Charlottetown, April 29, 2010 –Gabrielle Lepage of Gatineau, Que., won two gold medals on Thursday to open the 2010 Canadian Open Championships in synchronized swimming.  

Lepage started the competition with a victory in the duet technical event with her partner Bélinda Potvin-Serres of Laval, Que.,then capped the evening with gold in the solo technical event.

In the senior duet technical event, Lepage and Potvin-Serres (Montréal Synchro) in their first season together, totalled 76.000 points for the win with Meaghan Hipkin and Samara Hipkin (Edmonton Auroras) of Edmonton second at 70.834 and Carly Ayres and Holly Ediger (Aquatics Synchro Club) of Winnipeg third at 67.167.

"We were very satisfied with our performance," said Lepage.  "Our elements were more in synch and executed better technically than at any other event we’ve entered this year.  We’ve had good chemistry right from the start and our body types are quite similar which really helps too."

Potvin-Serres added that she and her partner reached their result and performances goals for the event.

"I’m proud with how we swam," said Potvin-Serres.  "We are very excited about winning the Canadian title in our first year.  It’s very encouraging to see us do this well in the technical event."

In solo, Lepage finished with 80.000, Julia MacLean of Whitby, Ont. (Durham Synchro), was second at 78.333 and Emily Whalen of Edmonton (Edmonton Auroras) was third at 78.000.

In the junior solo prelims, Emily Kopcik of Surrey, B.C.,, a member of the 2010 Canadian national team, grabbed the lead with an 86.166 score.  Sarah Brunin-Brouillette (Montréal Synchro) of Laval, Que., Annabelle Frappier (Montréal Synchro) of Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., were second and third respectively at 84.334 and 83.500.

The juniors are battling for spots this week on the 2010 Canadian Junior National team team which will take part in the 2010 FINA World Junior Championships August 11-15 in Indianapolis

"There are a lot of areas to improve," said Kopcik,17, now based at the Centre of Excellence in Montreal.  "I need to show more power in my routine and I think overall technically I can be better."

Brunin-Brouillette was bed-ridden with a nasty flu bug a couple of weeks ago and only resumed her training recently after missing a whole week of training.

"It wasn’t an easy situation but it turned out well for me," said Brunin-Brouillette.  "I certainly wasn’t at my best but I was really focused on the task on hand and very determined.  My first big practice since being sick was on Wednesday and right now I feel really good for the final."

Frappier finished a little higher than she expected.

"I didn’t really set any specific result as a goal but this was better," said Frappier.  "I’m excited about the final because I know my routine can still improve. With each competition I’m increasing my ability to keep my energy level high from start to finish."

More than 150 of Canada’s top synchronized swimmers in the Grade 6 and 7 categories categories are at the CARI Complex (550 University Avenue).  It is the first national synchronized swimming competition to be held in the province since 1994.

Competition continued through to Sunday.

Thursday’s results at the 2010 Canadian Open Championships in synchronized swimming in Charlottetown.  Full results at www.synchro.ca

TIER 7 JUNIOR
Solo (preliminaries): 1. Emilia Kopcik, Surrey, B.C. (Center of Excellence), 86.166; 2. Sarah Brunin-Brouillette, Laval, (Montréal Synchro) 84.334; 3. Annabelle Frappier, Mont Saint-Hilaire, (Montréal Synchro) 83.500; 4. Claudia Holzner, Calgary, (Calgary Aquabelles) 83.000; 5. (tie) Margaux Chretier, France and Camille Thuot, Montreal, (Montréal Synchro) 82.500; 7. Maeliss Roux, France, 81.833;  8. Janelle Ball, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que., (Dollard Synchro) 81.000; 9. Gabriella Brisson, Calgary, (Calgary Aquabelles) 80.834; 10. Rachel Fréchette, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que., (Dollard Synchro) 78.833.

TIER 7 SENIOR
Duet technical final: 1. Gabrielle Lepage, Gatineau, Que., and Bélinda Potvin-Serres, Montreal, (Montréal Synchro) 76.000; 2. Meaghan Hipkin and Samara Hipkin, Edmonton, (Edmonton Auroras) 70.834; 3. Carly Ayres and Holly Ediger, Winnipeg, (Aquatica Synchro Club) 67.167; 4. Lisa Bondt and Lauren Hardy, Charlottetown, (Charlottetown Naiads) 61.667; 5. Bridget Carter and Kathleen Carter, Charlottetown, (Charlottetown Naiads) 60.166.

Solo technical final: 1. Gabrielle Lepage, Gatineau, Que. (Montréal Synchro), 80.000; 2. Julia MacLean, Whitby, Ont. (Durham Synchro), 78.333; 3. Emily Whalen, Edmonton (Edmonton Auroras), 78.000; 4. Moira McAvoy, Calgary, 75.667; 5. Candace Caskey (Olympium Synchro), 75.666; 6. Monica Tomczak (PacificSport Aquasonics), 74.500; 7. Marlene Desaulniers-Bernard (Aquatica Synchro), 72.500; 8. Natasha Ridenour, (Edmonton Auroras), 71.384.

About Synchro Canada
Synchro Canada is the national organization that governs synchronized swimming in Canada and that represents more than 130 clubs and 12 000 members all across Canada. A member of FINA, the world’s governing body of aquatic sports, Synchro Canada promotes the quest for excellence through the development of athletes and synchronized swimming ambassadors at all levels Synchro Canada would like to thank its sponsors: Speedo, Sport Canada, Adup Display and MKI Travel. For more information, check out Synchro Canada’s website at www.synchro.ca.

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