Synchronized Swimming: Becky Kim, Kate Hooven and U.S. Team Finish Fifth in Beijing – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/23/2008 12:00:00 AM | Artistic Swimming
COLUMBUS, Ohio Becky Kim and Kate Hooven, Ohio State synchronized swimming letterwinners, and the United States team swam their way to a fifth-place finish (95.334) Saturday in the team competition of the 2008 Summer Olympics at the National Aquatics Center in Beijing.
The Russian Federation won the gold medal with a near-perfect score of 99.5. Spain claimed the silver medal with a total mark of 98.251, while China’s 97.334 was good enough for the bronze.
Synchronized swimming competition is divided into two portions, the technical and free routines. Team scores from each routine are added together for the final tally.
Kim, who has been battling injuries throughout the summer, swam the technical portion for the U.S. squad Friday, but was poolside during the team’s free routine Saturday. Hooven was a part of both swims. Hooven was a Buckeye letterwinner in 2004, while Kim will return for her senior season at Ohio State this fall. Jillian Penner, a 2009 Buckeye newcomer, also swam both the technical and free routines for the U.S., while Meghan Kinney, an OSU incoming freshman, was a U.S. Team alternate.
In the technical event, the U.S. contingent scored a 47.584 for a tie for fifth place with Canada. Russia owned an impressive lead after day one, falling short of a perfect 50 with a 49.5. Spain (48.917) and China (48.584) were second and third, respectively. Japan, who finished tied for fifth with the U.S. overall, was fourth following the technical routine with a score of 48.167.
The U.S. team’s theme of “Light” in the free totaled a 47.750 and its overall score kept them in fifth place for a tie with Japan. Denied the perfect score in the technical, the Russian Federation swept the board with 10.0s after the highest and lowest scores were dropped. Trailing by nearly seven-tenths of a point, Spain compiled a 49.334 for second in the free competition. China scored a 48.750 that kept them in third place. Canada made the jump to fourth from fifth following day two after notching a 48.084.
2008 Olympic Games
Beijing, China
Synchronized Swimming Team Routine
National Aquatics Center (“Water Cube”)
Aug. 22-23
Final Results
1. Russian Federation 99.5
2. Spain 98.251
3. China 97.334
4. Canada 95.668
5. United States 95.334
Japan 95.334
7. Australia 82.167
8. Egypt 80.833
