Russia’s absence boosts US hopes for Olympic gold in artistic swimming

FRANCE:

Bolstered by the absence of favorites Russia, the United States will aim for the artistic swimming gold medal at the Paris Games after qualifying for the Olympic team event for the first time since 2008.

The Americans punched their ticket to the Games after the world championships in Doha in February, in which they won two bronze medals.

“It means so much to me, to the whole team and to the rest of the USA artistic swimming community as well. To those teams that came before us, to the people that fought but didn’t qualify,” Anita Alvarez told Reuters on Sunday after. participating in a training session open to the public in the Paris suburb of Eaubonne, where the US delegation will be based during the Games.

“This first qualification since 2008 shows we’re getting stronger, we’re getting better,” said Bill May, a 45-year-old swimmer who could compete in the first Games open to men in the sport.

“We’re showing the world that we’re back.” Spain’s Andrea Fuentes, who won four Olympic medals in synchronized swimming, took over as Team USA’s head coach in 2018. “This qualification, that was my mission. But now, in America, it’s like ‘Dream big,’ and it’s like, ‘OK, the next step is an Olympic medal,’” he told Reuters.

Since the team event first appeared in the Olympics in 1996, the United States has won two medals — gold in Atlanta in 1996 and bronze in Athens in 2004.

The chance is even greater given that Russia, which has won every Olympic gold medal, in duets or teams, since 2000, will be banned from Paris 2024.

Russian athletes are allowed to compete in individual events under a neutral flag, provided they have not supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or have a contract with the Russian military. They are excluded from group events. “It’s an opportunity, of course, for all of us. Not just America, for the whole world,” Alvarez said.

“It’s too bad that you can see some of your friends not being able to compete, but I think it’s an opportunity for everyone in the world,” May said.

Team USA will compete in the second round of the World Cup from May 3-5, held at the new Olympic Aquatics Center in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis.