Sandy Gill – Emilia Kopcik MAKE Synchronized Swim Team

Gatineau Quebec’s Stéphanie Leclair and Karine Thomas produced the third best score in the thematic duet event in the 7^th FINA World Team Trophy synchronized swimming competition following the first day of competition.

Canada stands fourth overall after the first day.

The Canadian Team swam extremely well, considering this is a new team, which had only six weeks to prepare.

This is the most spectacular competition in the synchronized swimming on the international calendar of events.

The performances are judged solely on artistic merit and the athletes are allowed to use original costumes and accessories.

China stands first overall after two of four events (190.913 points), Ukraine is second (188.813), Japan third (188.013) followed by Canada with 185.863 points.

In the duet theme, China ranked first at 95.125, Ukraine second at 93.888 and Leclair and Thomas followed at 93.463.

While the theme was called “The Jaguar” it is the first time Leclair and Thomas competed together in competition.

In the highlight team routine, Canada posted the fourth best score with 92.400 points while China controlled the field with 95.700.

Japan managed 95.238 points followed by a team from the Ukraine with 94.925 points.

The Canadian team chose “The Spider” as the theme for several reasons.

The Canadian team members are Stephanie Leclair, Karine Thomas, Geneviève Bélanger (Laval), Camille Bowness (Beaconsfield), Gabrielle Cardinal (St-Lambert), Annabelle Frappier (Mont-Saint-Hilaire), Rachel Fréchette (Deux-Montagnes), Sandy Gill (Coquitlam), Emilia Kopcik (Surrey), Rebecca Maule (Guelph), Lisa Mikelberg (Hampstead), and Marie-Lou Morin (Westmount).

Swimming continues with the thematic team event and ends with the team combo. Canada won the overall gold in 2009.