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Swimming, Sculling and Holding our Breath All the Way to the Podium

The excitement and energy is all around us. We can't wait to have the opportunity to show everyone who we are. Check out Canada's Synchronized Swimming team closely; you will see things that you've never seen before in our routines. We innovate, push the limits of the impossible and push the acrobatics to a higher level. We're here to win a medal.
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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 29: OLYMPISCHE SPIELE SYDNEY 2000, Sydney; GRUPPE; TEAM USA (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 29: OLYMPISCHE SPIELE SYDNEY 2000, Sydney; GRUPPE; TEAM USA (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)

In Sheffield, England, Canada's synchronized swimming team is more ready than ever.

We are only a few days away from the big day, after secretly training until August 2. The excitement and energy is all around us. The adrenaline is there. We can't wait to have the opportunity to show everyone who we are. Check out Canada closely; you will see things that you've never seen before in our routines. We innovate, push the limits of the impossible and push the acrobatic jumping to a higher level. We are the Queens of acrobatics, and we want the world to see fireworks when we perform.

On August 2, the nine athletes took the train toward London to familiarize them with the official venue. I had to stay in Sheffield as I can't get in the pool venue before August 7. I thought about the girls all day long. I was waiting to hear some news from them. In the evening, I was finally able to talk to them. They swam like goddesses. All movements were executed with success. It was the first time that we showed publicly and we got congratulated by everyone -- not to mention, we impressed our rivals.

In the water, the war is on! We are ready to fight. We have nothing to lose and everything to win. Every one of us brings something to this team -- we can all take up the challenge to swim a perfect routine and to win a medal at the Olympic Games.

On the evening of August 3, my teammates came come back and joined me in Sheffield, except the swimmers who would compete in duet, as they would be in competition soon. This is where my role as an alternate became more important than in Spain where I had to know all positions of each girl. Here, my role is very specific as we are closer to the Olympic Games. As the duet members stayed in London to train for their competition, I was filling their position so the team can continue to train for few days with consistency and stability.

We are all very excited to go back in London as it will be our turn to be in action. When we are not training, we are watching the performances of our friends, the other Canadian athletes. Today is a well deserved holiday before the last training stretch. I had the opportunity to see a demo of one of the best rhythmic gymnastic athletes in the world. I had goose-flesh, as I tried this sport when I was young! It was great! At the same time, I was thinking that it would be our turn to be in the spotlight in the next few days.

From Sheffield, we watched the performances of Marie-Pier and Élise in the duet events. We know that it was in the best interest of the team to stay out of London for that time. That way we can have the time we want to train and be able to keep focussed, which will pay off in the end.

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