British Synchronised Swimming
British Synchronised Swimming, powered by British Gas, is the discipline that develops the elite side of the sport. It identifies and trains athletes and sets long-term strategies and clear objectives for the sport. Learn more here.
British Synchro has one aim: be the best you can be! It is under-pinnned by the British Synchro World Class programme, a system of talented coaches and support staff working with a core group of talented athletes.
There are currently 12 synchronised swimmers aged from 15-26yrs who are operating at the highest level of the sport. These core athletes train at British Synchro’s High Performance Centre in Aldershot. You can read more about the athletes in our Profiles section.
Improved performances in recent years have catapulted the squad, and particularly the duet, up the world rankings and this was reflected in the latest round of Lottery funding, which saw the investment in the sport rise 110 per cent.
High Performance Centre
In September 2007, British Synchro centralised at the British Army Barracks in Aldershot to form the High Performance Centre.
The Centre is now home to the sport’s elite swimmers and their coaches where everyone is dedicated to fulfilling their potential at a home Olympics.
Athletes at the Centre benefit from a full training programme, including physical and technical preparation, a competition programme that covers international events, nutritional, psychological and physiological monitoring and lifestyle support.
“One of the biggest highlights for me has been setting up the High Performance Centre in Aldershot. This was great because it meant that we could get the programme up to speed.
“For the first time in British Synchro’s history we have athletes training full time at a centralised High Performance Centre. This will enable us to compete at the highest level and provide the best preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games.” Biz Price, National Performance Director.”
Key Performance Staff
National Performance Director, Biz Price:
Price was herself a successful synchronised swimmer who competed for Canada. Since moving into coaching she has worked with Canada, China and Spain, some of the world’s leading synchro nations. She is credited as being one of people who helped to develop Spain into one of the best countries internationally. Price joined British Synchro in 2007 because of the opportunity of coaching a squad to compete at the home Olympics and also because was tasked with creating her own world-leading programme.
National Coach, Lolli Montico:
Montico has worked with all levels of the Italian synchro squad, including being the Assistant Coach for the Italian Senior National Team and the Head Coach for the Italian Junior National Team. She came to GB after being invited by Price to be part of the programme.
High Performance Manager, Adele Carlsen:
Carlsen was a synchronised swimmer herself and performed on the World and Commonwealth stage. She has been part of British Synchro for many years and before Price came on board she helped to lead the sport, including working with the duet at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
British Swimming’s Synchronised Swimming Committee
The British Synchronised Swimming Committee is a team responsible for the elite development of Synchro. They will work very closely with the ASA Synchro Technical Committee to define a long-term strategy and clear objectives to enable a line of sight from grass roots to elite level.
Members are as follows:
Maria Ramos, Chair
Biz Price, National Performance Director
Anne Clark, BS Board Liaison
Jennifer Gray, ASA
Phyllis McLean, SASA
TBC – Athletes Representative
Adele Carlsen, High Performance Manager
Julie Thompson, Committee Administrator (julie.thompson@swimming.org)
ASA Synchronised Swimming Technical Committee
Members are as follows:
Jennifer Gray, Chair
Anne Clark, SDG (Athlete Development) Liaison
Amanda Fuller, Communications
Carole Henson, Competitions
Mary Hooper, Workforce
Janice Waters, Athlete Development
Karen Thorpe, ASA Talent Development Officer (karen.thorpe@swimming.org)
Craig Nicholson, ASA Discipline Development Officer
Julie Thompson, ASA Committee Administrator (julie.thompson@swimming.org)
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