NZ DEVELOPMENT TEAM HEADS TO SINGAPORE

PRESS RELEASE – NEW ZEALAND DEVELOPMENT TEAM HEADS TO SINGAPORE

Synchronised swimming in New Zealand embarks on a new chapter of development next week, with a New Zealand Development Team heading to Singapore to compete in the Singapore Open (24th-26th November) for the first time.  Here they will compete against teams from Singapore, South East Asia and Sri Lanka – giving the team of 10 swimmers aged 12-17 a chance to measure their skills. 

The team features athletes from the three strongest synchro clubs in New Zealand and are spread across the country:

• Auckland – North Harbour Club – Nina Brown, Amber Fraser-Mackenzie, Josie Wells
• Tauranga – Tauranga Club – Isobel Pettit, Karlina Steiner, Eden Worsley
• Invercargill – Phoenix Club – Abbey Flutey, Isabella Gillanders, Ali Robertson, Arielle Wilkes

The coaches are Suzanne Ribeiro (a former Brazilian representative synchronised swimmer now living in Tauranga) and former NZ Olympic Synchronised Swimmer, Lisa Daniels (Dunedin).  Former NZ representative at multiple World Championships, Kirstin Anderson from Invercargill joins the team as Manager.

Over the last year the team have had regular training camps where they have come together to perfect their Combination Routine – which involves all 10 athletes in the water at the same time.  “A Combination routine allows us to develop the skills of all the swimmers, who are at different levels,: said Head Coach, Suzanne Ribeiro.  “It involves group movements, acrobatic lifts, solos and duets, and is an entertaining routine to both watch and swim.”

SSNZ Chairperson, Shirley Hooper, provides some context to the importance of sending this team away.  “These young athletes are working through a Development Pathway to enable us to send more regular teams to the FINA World Championships – the next of which is in Korea in 2019.  It is at World Championships every four years, that teams qualify for the Olympics.  In 2015 NZ narrowly missed qualifying for the Rio Olympics, so this is part of our plan to build the skills of our athletes to enable us to achieve our goals in this area.  Competing internationally is an important stepping stone in their development – learning to control their nerves in tight competition situations, and working with athletes from across the country. 

For further information, please contact Shirley Hooper – 021647746 – shirley@missionmarketing.co.nz