Montreal, August 16, 2011 – Almost 170 athletes from 11 countries in the Americas will compete at the 2011 U.A.N.A Pan American Synchronized Swimming Championships set for August 18-21 at the Olympic Park Sports Centre in Montreal.

The athletes at the competition will represent clubs and national teams from Aruba, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela and the United States.  They will compete in figures, solo, duet, team and team combination in the 12 and under, 13-15, junior and senior age groups.

‘’After the FINA World Aquatic Championships and the Pan Am Games, this competition is the season highlight for the synchronized swimming national federations in the Americas,’’ said U.A.N.A president Eldon C. Godfrey.

There is no charge for admission to the event. The competition is hosted by Synchro Canada and Synchro Quebec and jointly presented with the help of Sport Canada, the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sport of Quebec and the City of Montreal. 

Canada fields 28-member team
Canada will field a 28-member team including members of Synchro Canada’s 2011 National Junior Team.

The 2011 National Junior Team members are : Gabriella Brisson (Calgary, AB, Calgary Aquabelles), Sarah Brunin-Brouillette (Laval, QC, Montréal Synchro), Carlie Cholette (Ottawa, ON, Gloucester Synchro), Laura Dee (Laval, QC, Montréal Synchro), Marie-Claude Hébert (Breakeyville, QC, Synchro Élite), Claudia Holzner (Calgary, AB, Calgary Aquabelles), Tess Kruspe (Oakville, ON, Olympium Synchro), Samantha Nealon (Morriston, ON, Granite Synchro), Camille Rémillard (La Plaine, QC, Montréal Synchro), Haley Ricci (Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC, Dollard Synchro), Lisa Sanders (Gormley, ON, Granite Synchro) and Kaylene Scheil (Calgary, AB, Calgary Aquabelles).

Claudia Holzner was selected as soloist.  She will also compete in duet with Gabrielle Brisson.

Synchro Canada’s 2011 National Junior Team Coaches are Jenn Tregale (Calgary, Calgary Aquabelles), with assistants Maude Pelchat (Laval, Dollard Synchro) and Johana Vasquez (Terrebonne, Montréal Synchro).
The 2010 National Junior Team won bronze medals in solo, duet and team as well as fourth place in the team combo at the FINA World Junior Championships in Indianapolis.

There are also four members from Montréal Synchro in the 13-15 age group  (Jacqueline Simoneau, Anne-Marie Chouinard, Myriam Sabourin and Caroline Vary-O’Neal), 10 members of Synchro Ontario’s 12 and under provincial team (Chloe Allan, Emily Armstrong, Sabrina Barnes, Amanda Caromicoli, Samantha Law, Natalie Macmillan, Lavonna Mark, Sion Ormond, Kristina Ryssina and Joëlle Zavitz) and two athletes from P.E.I., who’ll compete at the senior level (twin sisters Katie and Bridget Carter).

For more information visit :  www.synchro.ca.

About Synchro Canada
Synchro Canada is the national organization governing synchronized swimming in Canada. It represents 10 provincial associations, a territorial association, as well as some 150 clubs and 12,000 members across Canada. A member of FINA, the world’s governing aquatic sports organization, Synchro Canada promotes the quest for excellence by developing the athletes, citizens and ambassadors of the sport of synchronized swimming at every level. Synchro Canada would like to thank its sponsors:

Official partners: Epiderma
Program partners: Sport Canada, Own The Podium, B2ten, the Centre national multisport-Montréal
Official suppliers: Speedo, Knox Gelatine, AdUp, MKI Travel, National Car Rental
Official hotel: Hilton Worldwide
Official Charity Partner: Plan Canada’s Because I am A Girl Program

For further information, visit Synchro Canada’s Website at www.synchro.ca or follow Synchro Canada on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

For more information:
Patrick Godbout
Synchro Canada
Communications Manager
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  
Cell.: (514) 213-9897
Website : www.synchro.ca
Facebook: Synchro Canada
Twitter : www.twitter.com/synchrocanada