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Dethroned Russia succeeds U.S. as sync swimming winnersLatest: Sunday October 08, 2000 05:47 PM
SYDNEY, Australia (CNNSI.com) - Russia captured the gold medal in the synchronized swimming team competition on Friday by scoring 99.146 out of a possible 100 points. Japan won the silver with 98.860, and Canada took bronze with 97.357. The United States, meanwhile, did not capture a medal for the first time since synchronized swimming became an Olympic sport in 1984. Using a witch-themed routine, the Russians earned two perfect 10s for technical marks and two 10s for artistic impression for a variety of pattern changes, lifts and throws. The team gold goes along with the duet gold Russia won three days earlier. "We wanted to make it very visual, including the swimsuits and hairstyles," said Maria Kisseleva, who, along with Olga Brusnikina, won the duet gold. "I believe it was a masterpiece. If it was not a masterpiece, we would not have won gold. "The Japanese were breathing down our necks," Kisseleva said. "We were a little uncertain, but it did not affect our performance, and now our emotions are overflowing." The Americans, who came in as defending champions, finished fifth at 96.104. France was fourth at 96.467. "I know we did the best job we could," said Kristina Lum, of Santa Clara, Calif. "What else can we do?" Anna Kozlova and Tuesday Middaugh placed fourth in duet Tuesday, ending the United States' incredible run of capturing a medal in every synchronized event since it became an Olympic sport in Los Angeles 16 years ago. "The U.S. has been on top for so long, I think everyone is very happy to push it down," said Kozlova, a Russian who became a U.S. citizen nearly a year ago. The eight Americans began the free routine in fifth place after a synchronization blunder marred their train-themed technical routine, which accounts for 35 percent. Choosing a storm theme for the free routine, the Americans opened with a double tower lift, in which two swimmers -- one on top of the other -- are hoisted out of the water by their underwater teammates. "Everything looked so together, so strong," said Heather Pease-Olson, who turned 25 on Friday. "I don't think we could have asked for a better-feeling swim." The judges disagreed, scoring the United States no higher than 9.7 on technique and artistic impression. "I thought it was almost perfect. It was a great swim," Kozlova said. "I'm not happy with the scores, but we gave it all we could." The U.S. team was comprised of Carrie Barton, Tammy Cleland-McGregor, Bridget Finn, Kozlova, Lum, Elicia Marshall, Pease-Olson and Kim Wurzel. Pease-Olson, who earned a gold medal in Atlanta, said the Americans were better than they were four years ago. "I was looking back at the film from '96 and I could see a lot of mistakes, but we still got perfect scores except for one 9.9," she said. "I definitely felt like we were more together today than we were then." Performing a routine titled "The Bird of Wonder," Japan received one 10 for technique -- from the Japanese judge -- and four 10s for artistic impression. The free routine, worth 65 percent of the final score, is more creative than the technical portion, in which teams are required to perform identical movements. Teams can perform any lifts, throws and configurations they want in the five-minute free. The team event was added to the Olympic program in Atlanta. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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