April 23, 2012
LONDON - Stanford's Maria Koroleva, a member of the United States synchronized swimming national team, paired up with Mary Killman to earn their first trip to the Olympic Games on Friday, placing seventh in the duet at the FINA Olympic Games Qualification Tournament.
The U.S. duet scored 88.400 points in Friday's free routine at the London Aquatics Centre. The duo also scored 88.400 points in the technical routine on Wednesday for 176.800 total points.
Russia (195.950), Spain (193.110) and Ukraine (184.890) grabbed the top three spots. Including continental champions from last year, 20 duets have now qualified for the London Games.
Killman and Koroleva first teamed up shortly before the Pan American Games in October 2011. Despite two months of practice as a duet, they won the silver medal in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Caitlin Stewart (Huntington Beach, Calif.) is the U.S. duet alternate.
Eight teams and 24 duets will compete at the London Olympics when the synchronized swimming event begins on Aug. 5.
Courtesy of USA Synchro