Canadian Synchronized Swimming National Team start its 2014 season in Germany, March 14-16

The 2014 German Open will be held in Bonn

Ottawa, March 10, 2014 – Canadian synchronized swimming national team will pursue its preparation for the 2015 Pan American Games and 2016 Olympic Games by starting its new international season at the German Open, March 14-16, in Bonn.

During this competition, the Canadian team will present for the first time two new routines and three others refined following the 2013 FINA World Aquatic Championships.

“With the 2015 Pan American Games and the 2016 Olympic Games coming soon, each competition is important for the Canadian synchronized swimming National Team”, said Senior National Team Head Coach, Meng Chen. “We will take advantage of this competition to test not only these new routines, but also these young athletes looking forward to Rio de Janeiro in 2016. And my expectation is to see these athletes do performances which will proudly represent the country and will show their determination to be at the next Olympic Games.”

Here are the team members who will represent Canada in this competition:

–BALL, Janelle (Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC) – technical team

–BRISSON, Gabriella (Calgary, AB) – technical team, free team

–FRAPPIER, Annabelle (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC) – technical team, free team

–FRÉCHETTE, Rachel (Deux-Montagnes, QC)

–GILL, Sandy (Coquitlam, B.C.) – technical team, free team

–HOLZNER, Claudia (Calgary, AB) – technical team, free team

–MAULE, Rebecca (Guelph, ON)

–MIKELBERG, Lisa (Hampstead, QC) –free team

–MORIN, Marie-Lou (Westmount, QC) – technical team, free team

–SCHEIL, Kaylene (Calgary, AB) – free team

–SIMONEAU, Jacqueline (Montreal, borough St-Laurent, QC) – free solo, technical duet, free duet, technical team, free team

–THOMAS, Karine (Gatineau, QC) –technical duet, free duet, technical team

Here is the competition schedule for the Canadian Team (Ottawa Time):

Friday, March 14

5 am: technical duet (Jacqueline Simoneau and Karine Thomas)

12:30 am: technical team

Saturday, March 15

5 am: free duet (prelims.) (Jacqueline Simoneau and Karine Thomas)

9 am: free solo (prelims.) (Jacqueline Simoneau)

Sunday, March 16

5 am: free solo (final) (Jacqueline Simoneau)

8 am: free duet (final) (Jacqueline Simoneau and Karine Thomas)

9:45 am: free team

Senior National Team Head Coach Meng Chen and her assistant coach Anastassia Goutseva will accompany these swimmers.

Louise Kennedy and Dot Padget have been appointed as judges for the competition.

Additional informational as well as athlete bios are available on-line 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:

Program partners: Sport Canada, Own The Podium, the Institut national du sport du Québec

Official Aquatic Supplier: Speedo Canada

Official make up: MAKE UP FOR EVER

Official suppliers: Knox Gelatine, AdUp, National Car Rental

Official hotel: Hilton Hotels Canada

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

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For information:

Patrick Godbout

Synchro Canada

Communications Manager