MARCH 29, 2003

SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING PREPARES FOR CARIFTA SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Synchronized Swimming will make its historic inaugural appearance at this year’s CARIFTA Swimming Championships, April 19-21. The Championships are held annually over the Easter Holidays, and attract age groups swimmers under 18 years old. The event is held in the Caribbean on a rotational basis, and gives young athletes an opportunity to compete against top competitors in the region.

Jamaica will host the 2003 CARIFTA Swimming Championships, and in preparation for the Championships the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) staged an intense 5-day Synchronized Swimming Judges Clinic at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston last week. The Clinic saw an average of 18 participants daily, and covered areas such as technical merit, artistic impression, marking scale, and scoring.

“I believe that the Synchronized Swimming programme in Jamaica will benefit tremendously from the introduction and hosting of the sport.” stated Mrs. Dorothy Padget, FINA Judge, and Synchronized Swimming Judges Clinic Instructor of Calgary, Canada who conducted the Clinic. She continued, “Having observed and worked with the girls selected to the Jamaican National Squad over the past six days I am confident that these girls are sufficiently talented, committed and trained to be competitive in a regional Synchronized Swimming championships.”

The 17-member National Synchronized Swimming Squad is trained by Kathy Lim Sang of Island Aquatics Synchronized Swimming Club. Kathy, a trained Synchronized Swimming Coach has been operating Island Aquatics for the last five years has accepted the challenge of preparing a competitive National Squad.

Synchronized swimming involves many complicated and intricate movements that require precise technical skills, finesse, and strength. Audiences are often mesmerized by the swimmers’ grace and beauty, while exhibiting total control of their bodies in an unstable medium. The sport combines the pleasing attributes of ballet with the strength and control of gymnastics. Originally referred to as "water ballet," the synchronized swimmer combines athletic ability and creative style.

Commenting on the historic inclusion of Synchronized Swimming and Water Polo in the CARIFTA Games, Don Anderson, Vice President of the Jamaica Olympic Association opined “This is a major step in the right direction, and certainly at the right level. The more aquatic disciplines that are included in events such as this, the more opportunities there are for enhancing Jamaica’s participation in the larger regional and international games. This would put our athletes firmly on the path to participation in the Olympic Games.”

The Synchronized Swimmers will today participate in a Development Competition being held at the National Stadium Pool. The Competition is being used by the ASAJ as a dress rehearsal for the Competition Managers and Jamaican Swimmers.