LA MIRADA, Calif. – The U.S. Senior National Synchronized Swimming Team finished fourth in team tech, and team members Anita Alvarez (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Ruby Remati (Andover, Mass.) were fifth in duet tech Thursday on the first day of the Synchro America Open, the eighth leg of the FINA Artistic Swimming World Series.
The U.S. team, performing to The Weather Girls’ 1982 hit “It’s Raining Men,” scored 83.2654 points for the fourth-place finish. Ukraine won gold at 89.5333, Japan was second at 87.6724 and Canada finished third with 85.9062 points.
Team USA is a young squad with almost all of the swimmers also making up the U.S. Junior National Team.
“We’re pleased with everything. It’s a big step forward and I’m so proud,” U.S. Senior National Team Coach Lolli Montico said.
Competing for the U.S. in team tech were Grace Alwan (Andover, Mass.), Yara Elian (Walnut Creek, Calif.), Nicole Goot (San Jose, Calif.), Hannah Heffernan (Las Vegas, Nev.), Cassandra Neeley (Williamsville, N.Y.), Ruby Remati (Andover, Mass.), Abby Remmers (Sugar Land, Texas) and Emma Tchakmakjian (New Canaan, Conn.).
Photo Courtesy: USA Synchro
Alvarez, a 2016 Olympian, and 15-year-old Remati finished with 83.1309 points in duet tech. China’s Ting Ting Jiang and Wen Wen Jiang won gold with 90.0649 points. Ukraine’s Anastasiya Savchuk and Yelyzaveta Aleksiiva (89.8886) took the silver and Japan’s Minami Kono and Yuriko Osawa (86.3859) earned bronze.
“I’m happy with the performance. The main work is on Ruby because she’s really young. She’s doing well,” Montico said. “What we want to build up with Ruby is something that will stay for years. They’re matching beautifully. I’m happy to spend time with them to make them better.”
“It felt good swimming together,” Alvarez said. “This was our last swim together of the season – Ruby’s going on to swim with Yara for Junior Worlds, so I wish her the best.”
The U.S. Junior National Team will compete at the FINA Artistic Swimming Junior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, July 18-22.
There will be five finals on Friday: senior mixed duet tech, senior free combo, senior team free, junior solo free and junior duet free.
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Unbelievable :p