By Vincent Daheron
EAUBONNE, France April 28 – Boosted by the absence of favorites Russia, the US will purpose for the gold medal in inventive swimming on the Paris Video games after qualifying for the Olympic group occasion for the primary time since 2008.
The People punched their ticket to the Video games following the world championships in Doha in February, at which they received two bronze medals.
“It means a lot for me, for the entire group and the remainder of USA inventive swimming neighborhood as effectively. For these groups who got here earlier than us, for the individuals who fought however didn't qualify,” Anita Alvarez informed Reuters on Sunday after. participating in a coaching session open to the general public within the Paris suburb of Eaubonne, the place the US delegation shall be based mostly in the course of the Video games.
“This primary qualification since 2008 reveals that we’re getting stronger, we’re getting higher,” mentioned Invoice Might, a 45-year-old swimmer who may participate within the first Video games open to males on this self-discipline.
“It's displaying the world that we’re again.”
Spain's Andrea Fuentes, who received 4 Olympic medals in synchronized swimming, took over as Workforce USA's head coach in 2018.
“This qualification, that was my mission. However now, in America, they’re like 'Dream huge' and they’re like 'Okay, subsequent step Olympic medal,” she informed Reuters.
For the reason that group occasion first appeared on the Olympic Video games in 1996, the US have received two medals gold in Atlanta in 1996 and bronze in Athens in 2004.
The chance is all of the higher on condition that Russia, winner of all of the gold medals on the Olympics, in duet or groups, since 2000, shall be excluded from Paris 2024.
Russian athletes are allowed to participate in particular person occasions below a impartial banner given that they haven’t supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine or usually are not below contract to the Russian military. They’re barred from group occasions.
“It's a possibility, after all, for all of us. Not solely the America, for the entire world,” Alvarez mentioned.
“It's too unhealthy which you can see a few of your pals not be capable to compete however I feel it's a possibility for everybody on the earth,” Might mentioned.
The US group will participate within the second spherical of the World Cup from Might three to Might 5, organized on the new Olympic Aquatics Middle in Paris suburb of Saint-Denis.
This text was generated from an automatic information company feed with out modifications to textual content.
