| Canada wins gold in team combination event at Japan Open |
|
Tokyo, May 4, 2010 – Canada won the gold medal in the team combination event on Tuesday at the Japan Open synchronized swimming competition. Canada, third in the event at the 2009 FINA World Aquatic Championships, earned 95.500 points performing a number called Dancing in the Streets. Ukraine was second at 92.750 and a club from Japan third at 91.750. The Canadian combo team members were Marie-Pier Boudreau-Gagnon of Rivière-du-Loup, Que., Jo-Annie Fortin of Montreal, Chloé Isaac of Brossard, Que., Ève Lamoureux of Montreal, Stéphanie Leclair of Gatineau, Que., Tracy Little of Pointe-Claire, Que., Élise Marcotte of l’Ancienne-Lorette, Que., Karine Thomas of Gatineau, Que., Valérie Welsh of St-Nicholas, Que., and Erin Wilson of Toronto. "It was really important for us to remain in first place," said Welsh. "The energy was there and the speed of our movements was the fastest it’s ever been. The big thing we need to work on in preparation for the World Cup (in September) are our acrobatic lifts." Canada is also in the lead after the preliminaries of the team free routine scoring 95.125 points with their Western theme program. They are ahead of Ukraine at 91.250 and a club from Japan at 90.875. Swimming for Canada were Isaac, Leclair, Welsh, Marcotte, Fortin, Little, Thomas and Lamoureux. "The energy and the synchronization of our program were outstanding," said Lamoureux. "It’s a big confidence boost and we know we can even do it better tomorrow in the final." In the duet free prelims, the Spanish pair of Andrea Fuentes and Ona Carbonell is first at 95.375, Boudreau-Gagnon and Isaac, performing to music from Metallica, are second at 94.250 and Yukiko Inui and Chisa Kobayashi of a club from Japan third at 91.875. "This is the first program done to music from Metallica and it surprised a few people," said Boudreau Gagnon. "But that’s an element we were looking for and we feel it worked out well. It’s a risk but synchronized swimming has changed a lot in the last few years and there’s more room for creativity." Competition ends Wednesday with finals in duet, solo and team.
About Synchro Canada
- 30 -
For information: |
