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Saturday, September 23
U.S. just shy of third
Associated Press
SYDNEY, Australia -- The Olympics are sort of a homecoming
for Anna Kozlova.
Eight years ago, she was competing for the Unified Team as a
Russian in duet in synchronized swimming. Now she is competing for
the United States and duets is back on the docket after being
dropped at the Atlanta Games.
Kozlova is one of the few Olympic athletes competing for a
second nation. She and Tuesday Middaugh combined to place fourth
Sunday. They have a chance at a medal, finishing just a few tenths
from third-place France after the technical routine.
Russia which hasn't lost a duet since 1997, and Japan were first
and second, respectively.
The duet competition continues for the next two days, with the
field cut to 12 on Monday, and then the final freestyle worth 65
percent of the total score on Tuesday.
Eight years ago in Barcelona, Kozlova came in fourth for the
Unified team as a Russian. After emigrating to the United States
the following year, then patiently waiting to gain her citizenship
last October, she is finally able to compete internationally again.
This is her first major championship since becoming eligible for
the United States.
She is quick to cite the similarities and differences of
competing in the Olympics as a Russian and an American.
"Competition is competition. When you compete you want to
perform the same way," Kozlova said.
"But it not the same way now, because I think Americans are the
best competitors. They have fun when they train. They have a team
spirit that not too many countries have. They make it brighter and
more exciting."
Back in the former Soviet Union, sports were regarded more as a
job rather than a pastime. That was part of the reason Kozlova
wanted to move.
When Kozlova came to Santa Clara, Calif., in August 1993 for the
wedding of an American swimmer, she stayed.
While she waited for citizenship, she still competed nationally
and completed a sweep of solo, duet and team for three of the last
four years; nationals were an open event.
Now she is back at the Olympics. Coincidentally, a number of her
former teammates from Russia are either competing or coaching for
other countries.
She and Middaugh, of Riverside, Calif., had 33.810 points.
France is third with 33.997.
Similar to figure skating, the technical portion had eight
required elements to music of the competitors' choice. It is marked
on artistic and technical merit.
To a percussion version of a song from the musical "FOS"
specially arranged for them, the Americans had marks of 9.6 through
9.8 from the 10 judges.
Russia, using the traditional folk song "Kalinka," led with
34.58, scoring nearly all 9.9s out of a possible 10.
The team competition, which the United States won in Atlanta,
begins on Thursday
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