Two international teams have been announced for Synchronised Swimming as they make their way to the European Juniors and the World Championships.
A team of 12 synchronised swimmers will be heading to the European Junior Synchronised Swimming Championships in Belgrade this June.
The team will be represented in solo, duet, team and free combination at the competition, taking place at the Tasmajdan Swim Centre from 21 – 25 June 2017.
Paola Basso and three-time Olympian Olivia Federici will coach the squad in Serbia, while City of Bristol’s Isabelle Thorpe has been nominated as team captain by the rest of the squad.
Swim England Synchronised Swimming Manager Karen Thorpe added: “We are really excited to be taking our Junior team to the European Juniors this summer. We will be competing in all the events, which will be great experience for the younger athletes.
“Europe is so strong for synchronised swimming that it will be great for the athletes to compete against the best in the world. As well as being a great opportunity, it will also give them something to aspire towards for the future.”
While Thorpe and City of Bristol teammate Kate Shortman have also been selected to compete in the World Championships in Budapest later in the year. The pair won the national Duet Free title in Nottingham last month.
The City of Bristol pair will be making their World Championship debut in Hungary as they look to build their experience on the road to Tokyo 2020.
Shortman and Thorpe have already impressed both internationally and domestically in 2017. They made their FINA World Series debut at the French Open in March, finishing 11th.
“It’s so exciting to be competing alongside the best synchro swimmers in the world,” said Shortman, who will compete individually in the Solo Free as well as in the Duet Free with Thorpe.
“We are really focused on working hard to step up to senior international competition and I feel we are getting stronger all the time.”
British team for European Junior Synchronised Swimming Championships 2017
Kate Shortman (City of Bristol) – figures, solo, duet, team, combination
Isabelle Thorpe (City of Bristol) – figures, duet, team, combination (team captain)
Danielle Cooper (Rushmoor) – figures, team, combination
Daniella Lloyd (City of Bristol) – figures, team, combination
Rebecca Richardson (City of Leeds) – figures, team, combination
Greta Hampson (City of Bristol) – figures, team, combination
Celina Dembinska-Kenner (Rushmoor) – figures, team, combination
Victoria Usher (Rushmoor) – figures, team, combination
Rosie Gunn (Rushmoor) – figures, combination
Harriette Smith (Reading Royals) – figures, combination
Abigail Taylor (Rushmoor) – figures, combination
Millie Costello (City of Leeds) – figures, combination
The British Duet for the FINA World Championships 2017
Kate Shortman (City of Bristol) – duet
Isabelle Thorpe (City of Bristol) – duet