Jan. 18, 2003
Anna Kozlova and Alison Bartosik earned their tickets to Athens on Saturday,winning the duet competition at the 2003 U.S. Olympic Team Trials -Synchronized Swimming to become the first two Olympians named to the 2004U.S. Olympic Team.
Kozlova and Bartosik scored a 96.417 to win the event by nearly three pointsover the unaffiliated duo of Sara Lowe of Desoto, Texas and StephanieNesbitt of Riverside, Calif. at 93.501.
Kozlova, of St. Petersburg, Russia, and Bartosik, of Flagstaff, Ariz. wereconsidered the early favorite for the duet Olympic bid after placing fourthat the 2002 FINA World Cup in Zurich in September.
"Going to the Olympics is an equally amazing and scary experience. I can'twait," said Kozlova, 30, a two-time Olympian who competed for the UnifiedRussian States in 1992 and the USA in 2000. The 2004 Olympic Games will bethe first for Bartosik, 20, who has competed with Kozlova since November of2001.
"Anna has taught me a lot over the past two years about competinginternationally, and I look forward to learning a lot more as we buildtoward Athens," Bartosik said.
By winning the duet event, the pair will automatically become part of thenine athletes named to represent the United States in the team competitionin Athens. All Trials results are pending U.S. Olympic Committee approval.The Trials are exactly 573 days before the Opening Ceremonies of the 2004Olympic Games. The early date is necessary to prepare the team to compete inthree major international events prior to the Games - the 2003 FINA WorldChampionships, 2003 Pan American Games, and 2004 Olympic Qualifying Open.The pair will now prepare for the 2003 Japan Open, April 3-5 in Japan, andthen for the 2003 U.S. Nationals, April 23-26 in Long Island, N.Y. The nextmajor international meet for the duo is the 2003 World Championships, July13-17 in Barcelona, Spain.
Competition continues Sunday and Monday with the 2003 U.S. National Team Iand II Trials, and the 2003 U.S. Junior National Team Trials.For more information, contact Brian Eaton, USSS Media Relations Director, at317-414-7962.
2003 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Synchronized Swimming Duet Final Results
1, Alison Bartosik, Anna Kozlova, Santa Clara, 96.417. 2, Sara Lowe,Stephanie Nesbitt, Unaffiliated, 93.501. 3, Janet Culp, Jennie Culp, SantaClara, 89.501. 4, Annabelle Orme, Kim Probst, Walnut Creek, 88.584. 5,Rachel Rife, Rebekah Rife, Walnut Creek, 84.584. 6, Lacey Brooten, SallyWinchester, Univ. of Washington, 83.001.