The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic GamesAugust 8-24 2008
(BEIJING, August 21) -- Russia are chasing their second Synchronized Swimming gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games as the two-day Team event begins on August 22 at the National Aquatics Center.
Eight countries will perform their Technical Routines on August 22 and their Free Routines on August 23.
Russian duo Anastasia Ermakova and Anastasia Davydova won gold in the Duet competition on August 20. They take their place in the eight-strong team that has been creating new routines behind closed doors. They have not competed since the Melbourne 2007 World Championships.
Russia has dominated the Team Event throughout the last decade. They have won gold at the past two Olympic Games and the past five world championships. They pride themselves on their precision and power, and are able to perform throws and lifts beyond the capabilities of the other teams.
Characterized by their creativity, Spain dethroned Russia in the Team Event at the 2007 FINA World Trophy Cup. The Spaniards won their first Olympic Synchronized Swimming medal when Gemma Mengual and Andrea Fuentes claimed silver in the Duet on August 20.
Japan won silver behind Russia at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. They are known for their consistency, having won a medal in Synchronized Swimming at every Olympic Games without ever taking gold. In the August 20 Duet final, they nudged China out of third place.
China finished sixth at Athens 2004 but has improved considerably since acquiring the services of legendary coach Imura Masayo of Japan in 2006. China's twin sisters, Jiang Tingting and Jiang Wenwen, finished fourth in the Duet on August 20.
US coach Tammy McGregor, who won gold in this event at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, has promised her team's innovative routines will contain a number of moves never seen before.
