Ottawa, September 13, 2011 – Synchro Canada is pleased to announce its senior national team nominated to the Canadian Olympic Committee for the 2011 Pan American Games set for Guadalajara, Mexico.

The duet competitions (technical and free) and team competitions (technical and free) in synchronized swimming are scheduled for October 18-21 at the Scotiabank Aquatic Centre.

The Canadian team will look to earn a berth for the 2012 Olympic Games in London in both Olympic events: duet and team.  In order to qualify, Canada must win a gold medal in each of these events.

‘’Qualifying for the Olympic Games in London at the Pan American Games is our main priority this season,’’ said Coach Julie Sauvé.  ‘’We are looking to start preparing our Olympic routines as soon as possible, which we hope will lead us to the difficult challenge of winning a medal in London, and we want that to begin the day after the Pan Am Games.”

The senior national team members nominated by Synchro Canada to the Canadian Olympic Committee are :

Marie-Pier Boudreau-Gagnon (Rivière-du-Loup, QC),
Stéphanie Durocher (Repentigny, QC)
Jo-Annie Fortin (Montréal, Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, QC)
Chloé Isaac (Brossard, QC),
Stéphanie Leclair (Gatineau, QC)
Tracy Little (Pointe-Claire, QC)
Élise Marcotte (L’Ancienne-Lorette, QC)
Karine Thomas (Gatineau, QC)
Valérie Welsh (Saint-Nicolas, QC)

Alternates:
Geneviève Bélanger (Laval, QC)
Gabrielle Cardinal (Saint-Lambert, QC)
Erin Willson (Toronto, ON)

Marie-Pier Boudreau-Gagnon and Élise Marcotte are the Canadian duet pairing.

The coaches are Julie Sauvé, Meng Chen and Anastassia Goutseva.

Additional event information and complete athlete bios are available on-line on Synchro Canada’s website at 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 Hotels Canada
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