Federici and Clark to lead British Synchro team in London

London 2012 Olympians Olivia Federici and Katie Clark have been named among the 12 English synchronised swimmers selected to compete for the British team at the LEN European Championships in London from 9 – 13 May.

Federici and Clark will compete in the Duet at London Aquatics Centre; the same event in which they have secured a place for Team GB at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Joining Federici and Clark on the British Synchronised Swimming Team named for London 2016 will be 10 promising young swimmers including Jodie Cowie and Hannah Randall, who competed at the 2013 World Championships and the European Games in Baku in 2015.
Click here to read a full interview with Kate Shortman on AquaZone – the digital magazine for 9-15 year old English club members.

City of Bristol’s 14-year old Kate Shortman, who won her maiden senior Free Solo and Free Duet titles at the ASA National Synchronised Swimming Championships 2016 in Nottingham earlier this month, has also been included in a senior European squad for the first time.

The British team have entered seven of the possible nine events at the European Championships, and one of these will be a debut performance of Solo routines on an international stage by 2010 Commonwealth Duet silver medallist Federici.

For the majority of this team, the LEN European Aquatics Championships in London will be the biggest competition of the year

Karen Thorpe, England Programmes Synchronised Swimming Lead, is looking forward to seeing her team compete at the biggest competition on home soil since the 2012 Olympic Games.

“For the majority of this team, the LEN European Aquatics Championships in London will be the biggest competition of the year and will provide a unique opportunity to perform against the best in the world,” said Thorpe.

“Competing at the London Aquatics Centre will create the perfect atmosphere with the backing of the home crowd.

“The meet will also serve as perfect preparation for the Duet that will head out to represent Great Britain in Rio this year after Olivia Federici and Katie Clark secured a quota place earlier in 2016.”

The British Synchronised Swimming Team named for London 2016

• Olivia Federici (Rushmoor) – Solo (Tech and Free), Duet (Tech and Free), Team (Tech and Free), Free Team Combo
• Katie Clark (Reading Royals) – Duet (Tech and Free), Team (Tech and Free), Free Team Combo
• Hannah Randall (Rushmoor) – Team (Tech and Free), Free Team Combo
• Emma Critchley (Reading Royals) – Team (Tech and Free), Free Team Combo
• Kate Shortman (City of Bristol) – Team (Tech and Free), Free Team Combo
• Isabelle Thorpe (City of Bristol) – Team (Tech and Free), Free Team Combo
• Jorja Brown (Rushmoor) – Team (Tech and Free), Free Team Combo
• Phoebe Bradley-Smith (City of Birmingham) – Team (Tech and Free), Free Team Combo
• Zoe James (Rushmoor) – Team (Tech and Free), Free Team Combo
• Danielle Cooper (Rushmoor) – Team (Tech and Free), Free Team Combo
• Jodie Cowie (Rushmoor) – Team (Tech and Free), Free Team Combo
• Lara Hockin (Rushmoor) – Team Free, Free Team Combo