Commonwealth medallists, Jenna Randall, Olivia Allison and Lauren Smith are the star names in the 2011 British Synchro team announced this week. British Synchronised Swimming has been going from strength to strength and in the run up to the London Olympics, 2011 is an important year.
Randall and Allison have been climbing their way up the world rankings this season, securing Britain’s best finish at the European Championships for 15 years when they came fifth. Together they scooped silver at this year’s Commonwealth Games in the Duet, with Randall also taking home the individual silver and Smith taking bronze – the first ever Commonwealth medal in Synchro for Scotland.
Of the remaining nine to be selected, Jennifer Knobbs is the only new face, having had her British nationality confirmed by world governing body FINA in October. Knobbs had previously been competing for Canada, winning the Solo event at the Swiss Open two years ago but for the past year has been finding her own training in the UK.
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Swimming: Randall and Allison return to Commonwealth Games with medals in mind
Swimming: British Synchro team finish fifth in duet final
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National Performance Director, Biz Price, commented, “I am excited about the new squad which includes one new member. The standard of the top 15 was much higher this year which is a reflection of the good work being done by the clubs.”
The team will perform a display at December’s British Gas ASA National Age Group Synchronised Swimming Championships before beginning their competitive season at the German Open in March. May will see the team compete in front of a home crows at the European Cup in Sheffield before they head to the World Championships in Shanghai in July.
Full squad:
Olivia Allison
Yvette Baker
Katie Clark
Katie Dawkins
Jennifer Knobbs
Vicky Lucass Rushmoor
Asha Randall Rushmoor
Jenna Randall
Katie Skelton
Lauren Smith
Anya Tarasiuk
Cherry Wilson
