OLYMPICS LONDON 2012: Synchro swimmers seal sixth and target Rio success

By Aimee Howarth, Sportsbeat, London 2012

GREAT Britain’s synchronised swimming team has targeted Rio 2016 for medals after finishing sixth on their Olympic debut.

UNISON: The British synchronised swimming team were left delighted with a sixth-place finish and look ahead to their next Games

The team scored 87.300 for their technical routine, which was performed to classical music Paganini Five, and finished the first day of the London 2012 competition ranked sixth out of eight.

A mark of 88.140 for their free routine, which had a Peter Pan theme, on the second day gave them a total of 175.440 points to keep them in sixth spot overall.

Coach Biz Price said the team will build on their maiden Olympic Games performance as they already look ahead to Rio 2016.

“We were very pleased,” she said. “Everything that we have been working on happened. It’s a really young group. For us it’s onwards to Rio.”

Members of the eight-strong team, which trained 42 hours a week for the competition, added that they were determined to impress the home crowd.

“I think I’ve really learned about the experience of an Olympic competition,” said Katie Clark. “It was amazing to have the home crowd, there’s going to be nothing like it ever again, so for me, it was the experience.

“Obviously Rio is our main aim for medals. To come in the top six at our first Olympics is really good and we have just pushed on from our performance at the World Championships last year and we’ve done really well to improve our scores.”

Jenna Randall, who also ranked ninth in the duets final with Olivia Federici, added: “We wanted to do a British theme as the Olympics are in London. Everyone loves Peter Pan and recognises it as well.

“Our first jump is really unique to us. It’s a split stand stack. It was very pleasing that the lift worked so well.”

Gold was won by Russia, who scored 197.030 overall, and China took the silver medal and Spain the bronze.

© Sportsbeat 2012