The duet tech prelim marked the start of competition with familiar faces finishing in the top spots. Russia took the top position with a 98.500 followed by Japan (97.167), Spain (96.833), China (96.333) and Canada (94.833). Christina Jones and Annabelle Orme represented the United States in the sixth place position with a score of 94.500. The duet tech final will take place Tuesday, March 20.
The free combination prelim concluded the opening day of competition. Despite taking home the gold medal in the 2006 FINA World Trophy Cup, Team USA secured fourth place with a score of 96.000. Russia dominated with a 99.000 followed by Japan (97.167) and Spain (96.667). The free combination finals will take place Sunday, March 18.
The U.S. National Team consists of Brooke Abel (Fallbrook, Calif.), Janet Culp (Littleton, Colo.), Jennie Culp (Littleton, Colo.), Kate Hooven (Pleasanton, Calif.), Christina Jones (Fremont, Calif.), Becky Kim (Walnut Creek, Calif.), Meghan Kinney, (Mission Viejo, Calif.) Andrea Nott (San Jose, Calif.), Annabelle Orme (Walnut Creek, Calif.), Jillian Penner (Seattle, Wash.), Kim Probst (Troy, N.Y.) and Layla Smith (Boulder, Colo.).
United States Synchronized Swimming (USSS) serves as the National Governing Body for the sport of synchronized swimming, appointed as such by the United States Olympic Committee. USSS is a membership-based and non-for-profit organization which services the sport from the grass roots level to the National Team. The mission statement of USSS is "to provide leadership and resources for the promotion and growth of synchronized swimming, to achieve competitive excellence at all levels and to develop broad based participation."
