Canada’s Olympic Synchronized Swimming Duet of Jacqueline Simoneau, 20, Saint-Laurent, Quebec and Karine Thomas, 27, Gatineau, Quebec plans to compete again. This time the duo’s goal will be to represent Canada at the 2017 FINA World Championships next July in Budapest, Hungary.
After training in Montreal since the age of 14, Thomas plans to focus on her education for the next several months and has moved back to her hometown temporarily. The two will alter their training routine to allow Thomas to spend more time on her studies. “I really appreciate our coaching team, Synchro Canada and my duet partner, Jacqueline, for allowing me to adapt our traditional training schedule,” said Thomas. “I want to swim competitively for at least one more year, but to also focus on finishing my marketing studies as well. I really appreciate all the support to help me to pursue both goals this year”.
Although her main training base will be in Gatineau in the short-term, Thomas plans to travel regularly to Montreal to work with her duet partner Simoneau before joining full-time at the Centre in April. “Karine is the longest serving member of our national team, and we are so pleased she has decided to continue her athletic career,” said Jackie Buckingham, CEO, Synchro Canada. “She has been an integral part of two Olympic cycles representing Canada. We are excited to see the continuing evolution of the partnership that she and Jacqueline have developed together and also to share Karine’s leadership with the national team. We wish them both all the best as they look to move up in the world rankings.”
Both athletes were gold medalists in duet as well as part of the 2015 Pan American championships gold medal team. Thomas competed in the team event at the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London, England, placing fourth. Together, Thomas and Simoneau finished 7th at the recent Olympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the Duet competition.