Daily News profiles Gotham Synchro

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:16:07 -0400

NYC’s first synchronized-swimming program, is profiled in today’s NY Daily News. Gotham Synchro, was founded by Coach Rowena Dale Mohammed in 2006 and offers classes and competitive teams in the NYC area. So if you’ve seen Sync or Swim and you’ve been itching to try out some moves of your own, now’s your chance

Team Darfur's Joey Cheek has Visa Revoked by Chinese Governmet

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:16:00 -0400

2006 Olympic gold medal speed skater Joey Cheek, had his visa revoked by the Chinese government on Tuesday - approximately 24 hours before he was scheduled to leave for the Beijing Games. Though a reason was not given, it is widely believed that it was a direct result of Cheek’s work with Team Darfur - a non-profit international coalition of athletes committed to raising awareness about and bringing an end to the crisis in Darfur, Sudan. Cheek is the president of Team Darfur and co-founded the organization with UCLA water polo player Brad Greiner. Greiner’s visa was also revoked last month by the Chinese government along with 2004 Olympic Synchronized Swimmer Kendra Zanotto who is a Team Darfur supporter (and who appears in Sync or Swim). Cheek was sheduled to be in Beijing for two weeks to support the 70 Olympic athlestes from around the world who have signed on to support Team Darfur

Team Darfur’s Joey Cheek, right, leads a rally at the Chinese Embassy in Washington in December with actress Mia Farrow and radio host Joe Madison. (By Alex Wong — Getty Images)

Beijing Olympics bittersweet for Culp twins

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:50:00 -0400

Denver post article here about a set of twin synchro swimmers, Janet Culp & Jennie Culp, one of whom made the 2008 Olympic Team and one who didn’t. It can’t be easy for anyone to miss out on fulfilling their Olympic dreams, but I’m guessing this was especially challenging.

Caption: Janet Culp, left, made the Olympic team while her sister, Jennie, didn’t because of a shoulder injury (AP).

Best. Hairstyle. Ever.

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:05:00 -0400

The Cover Art from today’s issue of flavorpill could not make me happier! David Yellen’s photo is one of 74 that appear in the book Hair Wars, written by fashion photographer Johanna Lenander and photographed by Yellen. The pair traveled around the country from 2004-2006 documenting hairstyles like these at various Hair Wars competitions.

I don’t know about you, but I would pay good money to see the woman with the hairstyle above ride the bicycle below.

Starchitecture

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:03:00 -0400

Head over to the NY Times today for Nicolai Ouroussoff’s article about Beijing’s breathtaking Olympic National Staduim. More great photos of The Stadium here.

Even though I’m excited to be here in NY promoting the upcoming Sync or Swim screening, I do get sad now and again that I won’t be in Beijing for the festivities. This is one of those times. Ouroussoff writes:

“Great architecture can never be fully conveyed through a television screen, of course, and it saddens me that so many Americans will experience the building only via satellite.”

Well, despite the fact that I won’t get the full effect, I’ll still be watching via satellite this Friday when the Opening Ceremony kicks off the XXIX Olympic Games.

Rethinking the Duet.

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:48:00 -0400

So, I’m not usually a fan of those blog entries that poke fun of Olympic Synchro, but this one is worth a mention. In a post titled, “A simple solution for how the USA can dominate the Olympics,” the author re-imagines the Olympic Synchro Duet with the team of Eli Manning and Peyton Manning. Okay, I did kinda get a kick out of this one. But despite the fact that siblings often team up in the duet event (e.g. The Josephsons aka The Js, The Culps, The Rifes, The Smiths, I’m sure there are more), I’d like to see those Mannings try to go up against Christina Jones and Andrea Nott in the duet event.

VS.

Come on Mannings! Bring it!

Janet Culp's Olympic Blog

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:16:00 -0400

Keep up with Janet Culp and the rest of Team USA Synchro in the next few weeks as she blogs about her Olympic experience. Here’s a sample of a recent entry:

“Well, my bags are packed and I’m ready to go! Two big pieces of luggage, a carry-on, and a small backpack fit all I need (I hope!) for my first Olympics.”

Congrats on making the Team, Janet. We’re so excited for you!!

Janet (airborne) gets a lift from teammate Kim Probst at the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio.

Extreme Olympic Ticket Lines in China.

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:05:23 -0400

It was mayhem last week as the last of the Olympic tickets went on sale in China. Approximately 30,000 people waited in line - some for up to two days - to secure seats to the upcoming Games. Media clashes with police were reported and far from enough tickets were available for the Chinese Olympic fans who stood waiting for hours in the heat. The man in the picture below was understandably elated to get tickets to the Olympic Synchronized Swimming competition.

Similar lines formed here in the States a few weeks prior…but not for synchronized swimming tickets.

Evolution of The Torch

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 10:32:00 -0400

Interesting interactive NY Times piece about the evolution of the Olympic Torch. Head over to the Times page and scroll over the torch icons to see each one up close. Then listen to reporter Phil Patton walk you through some fascinating Torch trivia.

Oh, and I learned a new word: Starchitects (STAR + ARCHITECTS). Good one.

Andrea's mini-profile in Contra Costa Times

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:59:00 -0400

Bay-Area newspaper the Contra Costa Times has a short profile of Andrea Nott over on their website. Love this picture

Team USA has "Crazy Focus"

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:11:00 -0400

For serious. USA Synchro Team member (and Teamusa.org guest blogger) Andrea Nott, who’ll represent the USA in both the duet and team competitions in Beijing, shares her thoughts on what it’s like to be one week out from the start of the Olympic Games. Here’s an excerpt:

“I have always considered myself focused on my Olympic goals, but the closer and closer we get to it, the less and less I think about anything else at all hours of the day. It’s even getting harder to fall asleep at night.”

Andrea (who’s featured in Sync or Swim) will be blogging at Teamusa.org in the weeks to come. Stay tuned for more of her Olympic updates! Oh, and GO TEAM!

Andrea Nott and duet partner Christina Jones captured Gold at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio.

Medals of Beijing Olympic Games

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:23:48 -0400

Just 8 days until the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Games. Here’s hoping USA Synchro walks away with a few of these..

Interesting info on the Medal design process here.

Q&A with Becky Jasontek

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:54:00 -0400

Nice interview in Cincinnati Weekly with 2004 U.S. Olympic Synchronized Swimmer Becky Jasontek. There are lots of great answers to questions, Olympic and otherwise, but this one’s my favorite:

WHAT MOVIE DO YOU WATCH AND REWATCH?

Probably the film by the documentary crew that followed my crew around the Olympics. I just got a copy of it. I’ve been to two different premieres. It’s a documentary called Sync or Swim.

Thanks, Becky! We’re flattered.

Caption: In October 2004, Olympic bronze medalist and former Loveland resident Becky Jasontek was honored during a ceremony at her alma mater, Mount Notre Dame.

60 second primer.

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:42:08 -0400

Need to brush up on Olympic Synchro? Head on over to Reuters FACTBOX and check out their cliff notes version the sport. You will be tested on this information.

Water Cube at Night

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:56:00 -0400

In just two short weeks, amazing athletes from all over the world will walk in the Opening Ceremony at the Beijing Olympic Games. The following week the synchronized swimming competition (and other aquatic events) will begin in the Water Cube - a stunning sight to behold. Seems like it’d be worth the ticket price just to be inside that giant membrane structure…and for the synchro, of course.

Will Improv Everywhere team vie for Beijing?

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:40:41 -0400

Four years ago today, the NYC-based Improv Everywhere took to Washington Square Park posing as The New York Synchronized Swimming Team at the Olympic Trials, hoping to compete in the Athens Games. The 16 swimmers wore matching goggles and caps and presented their choreographed routine to a crowd of amused and confused onlookers. Check out the photos and video below of the aquatic spectacle. That’s funny, I don’t remember seeing them at the competition in Greece.

.

Need to see it for yourself? Let’s go to the video “tape.”

BTW, if you want more Improv Everwhere check out this amazing “Mission.”

Olympic Synchro Team gets Circus Training.

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:28:00 -0400

Fun behind-the-scenes San Francisco Chronicle article about the 2008 U.S. Team’s training at the San Francisco Circus Center. Andrea Nott blogs about it, too.

Doing this at Circus School…………helps them do this in the water.

Video version of the story below.

Olympic Perks.

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:19:00 -0400

I came across this on Flickr. A dentist in California is improving the 2008 Teams’ smiles…one bleach tray at a time.

Members of the U.S. Olympic Synchronized Swimming team gather round Dr. Ricardo M. Perez in his Pleasant Hill, Calif. office, Wednesday, July 23, 2008, as he prepares to take a dental impression from team member Janet Culp. Perez is supplying the team with custom-fitted bleaching trays free of charge, so that they can brighten their smiles before their performances in Beijing next month. Team members are, from left, Brooke Abel, Meghan Kinney, Annabelle Orme, Kim Probst, Kate Hoover, Jillian Penner, Becky Kim and head coach, two-time gold medalist Tammy McGregor. (D. Ross Cameron/The Oakland Tribune

There was this action shot, too!

Smile, Team USA! You’re going to the Olympics!

Chinese consulate denies work visa to synchro swimmer

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:49:28 -0400

2004 Olympic Synchronized Swimmer Kendra Zanotto (who appears in Sync or Swim) was denied a work visa by the Chinese consulate to travel to Beijing as a reporter for the Games. Though the consute didn’t give a reason, the firm that had hired Zanotto told her that “the government was uncomfortable with the affiliation to Team Darfur.” Team Darfur is a non-profit organization (co-founded by Olympic gold medalist speed skater Joey Cheek and UCLA water polo player Brad Greiner) as an international coalition of athletes committed to raising awareness about and bringing an end to the crisis in Darfur, Sudan. The organization’s mission was to bring attention to Darfur without calling for a boycott of the Games. Kendra sent a letter of appeal to the colsulate last week. No word yet on the liklihood of them reversing their decision.

Best. Bicycle. Ever.

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:40:00 -0400