USA SYNCHRO NEWSLETTER – JANUARY 2016

Dear All,

January has been another busy month for USA Synchro! Bill May and Chris Carver were recognized at the FINA Gala Dinner, while our other National Team Members won two bronze medals at the German and French Open. Meanwhile, our members have been busy with CCP training, Grade assessment (855 athletes to date) and the first local competitions of the season.

Good luck to all our members as we enter the competitive season!

Myriam Myriam Glez - USA Synchro - CEO/ High Performance Director

FINA AWARDS Bill May named FINA’s Male Synchro Athlete of the Year

Bill May (Cicero, N.Y./Las Vegas), who returned from a decade-long retirement from the sport of synchronized swimming to win historic gold and silver medals last summer, was named FINA’s Male Synchro Athlete of the Year on Sunday, January 31. “Two years ago I would never have imagined winning this award today because the mixed duet was not even on the program. This comes as a complete surprise to me," said May. "I have had dream partners and amazing coaches without whom I wouldn’t be here today. All their support has been so precious." May’s longtime coach, the legendary Chris Carver, also was honored at the FINA World Aquatics Gala in Budapest, Hungary. May won the first-ever gold medal in mixed duet at a FINA-sanctioned event when he teamed with 2008 Olympian Christina Jones in mixed duet tech at the FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia, in July 2015. He also won silver with 2000 Olympian Kristina Lum Underwood in the mixed duet free final. "I think my performances in Vegas helped me get ready for Worlds," said May, who is part of Cirque du Soleil's "O" show. "It has given me the opportunity to perform in front of a large crowd and be more athletic and in tune with the requirement of the World Championships. Kazan was incredible because I was in front of my family, my first and current coaches.” May won 14 U.S. national championships and even more international titles in France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, during the first part of his career, before retiring in 2004. A trailblazer in a predominately all- woman sport, he became the first male to win a national title in the U.S. and was named USA Synchro’s Athlete of the Year in 1998 and 1999.

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INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS

Olympic Duet - Anita Alvarez and Mariya Koroleva – returned from Europe with 2 Bronze Medals

The Olympic Duet athletes and Senior Head Coach Lolli Montico travelled to Italy to train with the Italian National Synchro Team in Rome prior to competing in the German Open. They participated in the German Open in Bonn January 28-31, 2016, and finished 3rd in duet behind Mexico and France. They continued their European tour to Paris to participate in the French Open where they grabbed another bronze medal. “We are so happy, and not just because we won another medal, but because we ended our European trip with a good swim,” Koroleva, a 2012 Olympian said. “This is giving us a great positive push toward our last few weeks before the Olympic qualifier. We can’t wait to get back home and get back to work.”

Alvarez and Koroleva improved their score on the free duet between the German and French Open and definitely proved they have stepped up their game.

“Although they were incredibly tired, they swam their best and put everything they had left into this final swim,” U.S. Senior National Team Coach Lolli Montico said. “I’m very proud of them. They worked hard with professionalism and dedication.”

Alvarez and Koroleva will compete at the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Rio de Janeiro starting March 2.

Bill May NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS

Swimmers advance at Age Group National Team trials Sixty of the country’s top young synchronized swimmers recently advanced after the first two phases of the Age Group National Team Trials in Coral Springs, Florida. The swimmers vying for spots on the U.S. 13-15 and 12 & Under National Teams were scored on several different figures, skills and routines. The final phase and selections for both teams will take place April 10 following the U.S. National Championships (April 6-9) in Mesa, Ariz. The 13-15 National Team will take part in the Comen Cup in Israel in July. The 12U National Team will compete at the Age Group Pan American Championships this summer.

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USA Synchro announced its 2016 U.S. Junior National Synchronized Swimming Teams The U.S. Junior National Team 1 will compete at the FINA Junior World Championships in Kazan, Russia (July 9-13, 2016) and the Junior National Team 2 will take part in the Age Group Pan-American Championships this summer. The athletes were selected to each team following the Junior National Team trials Phase 3 in Lafayette, Calif., on Saturday, January 30. The athletes earning a spot are:

2016 U.S. Junior National Team 1: 2016 U.S. Junior National Team 2:

•Jacklyn Luu (Santa Clara Aquamaids) •Grace Alwan (ANA Andover) •Caitlin Klauer (Optima Synchro) •Karen Li (Santa Clara Aquamaids) •Lindi Schroeder (Optima Synchro) •Nicola Schmidt (Santa Clara Aquamaids) •Rachel Lau (Santa Clara Aquamaids) •Louisa Strutynski (Unaffiliated) •Nicole Dzurko (Santa Clara Aquamaids) •Alexandra Poteet (New Canaan Aquianas) •Rachel Ye (Santa Clara Aquamaids) •Sabrina Walsh (Santa Clara Aquamaids) •Victoria Woroniecki (Unaffiliated) •Alexandra McGee (Tonawanda Aquettes) •Lily Randhawa (Walnut Creek Aquanuts) •Emily Lu (Santa Clara Aquamaids) •Natalia Vega (Santa Clara Aquamaids) •Natalie Fletcher (Walnut Creek Aquanuts) •Camryn Carrasco (Santa Clara Aquamaids) •Renee Stehlik (Walnut Creek Aquanuts)

•Daria Torba (Walnut Creek Aquanuts)

•Rachel Jager (Walnut Creek Aquanuts)

SPONSORS

Olympic Synchro Duet named to first Team SwimOutlet

SwimOutlet.com has unveiled its first-ever Team SwimOutlet group of athletes: Anita Alvarez and Mariya Koroleva, world silver medalist Cammile Adams, 2015 world champion Haley Anderson, teenage phenom Michael Andrew and four-time Olympian Tony Azevedo.

As part of Team SwimOutlet, athletes will provide content and blogs to SwimOutlet and will also appear on SwimOutlet.com’s new Snapchat (@swimoutlet) throughout the year, highlighting their training and preparations for Rio.

For more information, visit www.swimoutlet.com, Facebook.com/swimo utlet, twitter/instagram/Snapchat @swimoutlet.

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USA Synchro names BiPro as it official supplement partner USA Synchro announced that BiPro USA has become the organization’s official protein supplement. BiPro is a high-quality whey protein isolate that contains 0 grams of sugar. The supplement goes through an advanced ultrafiltration process that yields a clean protein powder that is both lactose- and gluten- free.

Through this partnership, BiPro will provide USA Synchro Junior and Senior National teams with its products and offer discounts to all USA Synchro members.

“USA Synchro is extremely pleased to have BiPro as an official supplier to our national teams,” said USA Synchro Executive Director Myriam Glez. “This is another exciting partner to start working with us. They have great products that the athletes have used for some time, and it will help them with performance nutrition, recovery and nutrition while they travel overseas.”

“We are very excited that USA Synchro values our products and will exclusively use them over other protein supplements,” said BiPro USA Marketing Manager Aimee Krengel. “This is yet another example that BiPro is the perfect whey protein for everyone.”

To learn more about BiPro, visit www.BiProUSA.com.

Klean Athlete, Affiliate program for USA Synchro members

USA Synchro members can buy discounted products from Klean Athlete through its affiliate program. Klean athlete offers a range of high quality nutritional supplements for athletes: antioxidants, electrolytes, multivitamins, omega, probiotic... The complete line is formulated without wheat or gluten and contains no artificial coloring, flavoring or sweeteners. The line of nutritional supplements is tested and certified through NSF International™, and their prestigious NSF Certified for Sport® program.

To receive your 15% discount on any of the Klean Athlete products, order directly from their website at http://www.kleanathlete.com/?affiliate_id=179061 or search for the USA Synchro Affiliate ID# 179061 on their website.

Shop now with Klean Athlete and contribute to the development of USA Synchro! www.kleanathlete.com.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

All Pro weights - Perfect aquatic weights for your strength training in the water

USA Synchro has partnered with All Pro Exercise Products, the market leader in premium quality, patented, weight-adjustable products for fitness, health and wellness. Our Senior National Team athletes use All Pro Aquatic weights and Aquatic resistance bands for their daily training.

“In the past, the swimmers have had to replace their ankle weights all the time because of poor quality and usage in the water. With All Pro’s full line of aquatic fitness/wellness products, they won't have to do that anymore. These products are specifically designed for use in the water,” says Myriam Glez, USA Synchro’s High Performance Director.

Athletes can select from a wide range of aquatic weights - ankle, wrist, thigh weights or weight belt – specifically designed for the water.

“These weights won’t rot, break or stretch so that you do not have to replace them every month. Additionally, you can insert or remove some of the weights to adjust the strength and requirement of your training,” says Claire Barton, Senior National Team Member.

All Pro’s products are available from a wide variety of sporting goods stores and online retailers nationwide. Visit AllProWeights.com for more information.

To order your All Pro Weights, coaches can contact All Pro directly by email at [email protected] or by phone at 908-281-7100, or visit AllProWeights.com for more detailed product information.

Sarah Rodriguez, Senior National Team Member

Alison Williams, Senior National Team Member 5

© Fima photography © Fima photography EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Shari Darst promoted to Education Director of USA Synchro Shari held several volunteer positions with USA Synchro throughout the last 25 years and more recently on the Board of USA Synchro as VP Education and VP Olympic International. In 2015, Shari was hired by USA Synchro as the High Performance Coordinator. Shari was instrumental in the formation of the CCP & Grade programs. Shari is passionate about educating coaches, officials and athletes. Over the last three months, she has been travelling throughout the country teaching CCP classes and organizing and assessing Grade competitions every weekend. As Education Director, Shari will be leading the implementation of the Long Term Athlete Development and the education of our coaches and officials.

A former synchronized swimmer, Shari began her synchro career 45 years ago in Arizona, culminating as a Collegiate All-American for the University of Arizona in 1977 and 1978. She began coaching after graduating from the University of Denver with a degree in business in 1981. Her coaching career started as an assistant coach with the South Suburban Tarpons, and then as head coach with the Rocky Mountain Splash, since its formation in 1992. Shari became a National Judge in 1999, and is currently a FINA B judge. Shari was awarded the 2003 Developmental Coach of the Year & 2014 Hall of Fame Contributor from USA Synchro, 2007 & 2014 North Zone Coach of the Year and the 2009 North Zone Contributor of the Year.

Paola Tirados named National Talent Coach Paola Tirados has been named National Talent Coach by USA Synchro. She was selected among four other applicants. Paola has 24 years of experience as an athlete and a coach. She has won 38 medals at European and World levels. She participated in three Olympic Games: Sydney 2000 (7th in Duet), Athens 2004 (4th Duet and Team) and Beijing 2008 (Silver Medal, Team). As a coach, she worked with children of all ages in Spain, USA (2012), Costa Rica and Panama. Paola teaches synchro for Imagine Swimming club in New York City and works on her new sport brand – SINCHRO (app for synchro).

She will be working with Sara Lowe and Megan Azebu as the Assistant Coach for the 13-15 National Team this summer. As the National Talent Coach, Paola will be responsible for identifying talented athletes throughout the country and the development of the Rising Stars athletes. She will be travelling to the clubs to support the athletes and their coaches. Paola also studied architecture and worked as an interior designer. She has been living in New York since 2013 with her husband and son.

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EVENTS

A fresh new US Open for 2016! Be ready for an exciting US Open Championships at the Riverside Aquatic Complex July 14-16, 2016. With the competition being held only three weeks before the start of the Olympics, we already have confirmed participation from top Olympic duets. USA Synchro is also using this event to showcase a new exciting event style with more entertainment and fun for athletes and spectators. More info coming soon!

Upcoming events:

⁻ February 13-14 – East Zone 13-15 Championships – Hamden, CT ⁻ February 25-28 – North Zone Championships – Fort Collins, CO ⁻ March 2-6 – Olympic Qualifying Tournament – Rio, Brazil ⁻ March 10-13 – West Zone Championships – Irvine, CA ⁻ March 11-13 – South Zone Championships – Lewisville, TX ⁻ March 23-26 - US Collegiate, Gainesville, FL ⁻ April 5-9 – US Nationals, Mesa, AZ ⁻ April 10 – 12U and 13-15 National Team Trials Phase 3

Follow our National Team athletes on Social Media: Anita Alvarez and Mariya Koroleva are travelling to Coral Springs, FL for a final training camp before participating in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Rio, Brazil March 2-6, 2016.

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