British Swimming and the ASA have received official confirmation of the quota place achieved by the Duet that competed in Rio at the Olympic Games Test Event.
Katie Clark and Olivia Federici returned to the sport in November and made an impressive start to 2016 with a top ten finish at the German Open, their first international competition since the 2013 World Championships.
The pair then showed significant progress a week later at the French Open before going on to take first place in the Duet Free second round at the Olympic Games Synchronised Swimming Qualification Tournament.
Their performance gained a quota place for Great Britain at this summer’s Olympic Games, which was later confirmed by the international federation, FINA.
Synchronised Swimming Lead, Karen Thorpe, said: “Achieving the Olympic quota place is a real testament to the hard work that has been done not only by Katie and Olivia but also Genevieve [Randall] and Jodie [Cowie].
“Our National Coach Katie Chapman has worked tirelessly to make sure that the athletes were in the best position to secure that vital quota place for the Games.
“We have had some ups and downs since London 2012 but this has to be a highlight for the sport. Over the last two years the synchro community has really united to help progress the sport, and in many ways it is stronger than ever. We now have four months that will be spent working hard to ensure we are at our best in Rio.
“I’m proud of the progress that Katie and Olivia have made since returning last year and I know that alongside Genevieve and Jodie we will be able to select a strong Duet for Rio.”
David Sparkes, British Swimming Chief Executive, said: “British Swimming is delighted we have qualified for Rio. They have worked hard and it’s been good to see them achieve this position.
“With more support from UK Sport, as an emerging sport, we could challenge for medals in the future in this great sport.”
Adam Paker, ASA Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted with the progress of the England Programmes Synchronised Swimming team. With the ongoing support of Sport England, we have seen a real increase in the popularity of synchro, both amongst the younger age groups and the more mature swimmers, and following team successes in the European Games in Baku last year, there is real excitement about the future of synchro,
“We are proud of the support we have been able to provide to the athletes on their journey to Rio. The Olympic Games will not only provide a platform for the Duet to showcase their skills, but it will also give them an opportunity to inspire others to get involved in the sport.”
Swimming news courtesy of British Swimming.
