Team USA Strikes GOLD at World Cup Stop #3 in Canada

USA competed in the third stop of the World Cup Series in Markham ending the weekend on an exciting note, bringing home gold from their water-themed Free Team Routine. 

Contrary to the French Open, USA made less appearances in the competition while only participating in Team Technical, Team Free, and swimming one duet versus showcasing two different combinations of athletes at the Olympic Test Event. Prior to competition, Head Coach Andrea Fuentes shared the stars and stripes felt inspired to make changes to their Acrobatic Routine in preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games and was not ready to showcase the masterpiece to the crowd. 

USA Senior National Team continues to utilize the World Cup stops for their Olympic Games preparation plan to test athletes that did not get the chance to perform in Paris. Fuentes says, “We want to make sure we select the strongest team for the Olympics, and this is our last chance before we select the team on June 7^th.”  

TEAM TECHNICAL 

Daniella Ramirez, Megumi Field, Audrey Kwon, Jacklyn Luu, Jamie Czarkowski, Ruby Remati, Anita Alvarez, Calista Liu 

USA opened the team competition with their Michael Jackson Technical Routine landing a bronze medal just points behind Canada and China. A clean swim was rewarded on all hybrids; however, USA received a score of ‘0’ on a technical element, moving them farther down in the rankings. 

Despite the penalty, USA improved their score of 194.3211 in Paris to receiving a bronze medal with a total score of 262.7404 in Markham. 

DUET  

Jamie Czarkowski & Megumi Field 

The duo Jamie Czarkowski and 18-year old Megumi Field made their second appearance as partners and placed 8^th in the Duet Technical category with the fourth highest artistic impression score, but receiving a ‘0’ on an element placing them in 8^th place with a total score of 222.5334. 

Moving on to the Duet Free Routine; Czarkowski and Field, again, ranked on top with their artistic impression but received a penalty during their routine landing them in 9th place. 

TEAM FREE 

Daniella Ramirez, Megumi Field, Audrey Kwon, Jacklyn Luu, Jamie Czarkowski, Ruby Remati, Anita Alvarez, Keana Hunter 

USA blew away their final team swim in Markham during the Team Free competition receiving full declared difficulty, highest artistic impression, and an amazing execution score ending with a total of 341.6208 points, placing them on the podium in the position for gold for the first time in multiple years. 

USA improved their score by 128.6123 points compared to their last Free Team swim in early May at the French Open. 

MENS SOLO 

Kenny Gaudet 

Kenny Gaudet started off the weekend earning silver in the Men Solo Technical category ending with 180.3716 points improving his score from the French Open in this category.  

Heading into the Men Solo Free competition, Gaudet submitted a routine with high declared difficulty but received base marks, placing him in 4^th place overall with a score of 149.4709. 

Head Coaches plan to take the following days to analyze the scores from multiple in-practice evaluations, scores from the French Open, and Markham to determine who will be named apart of the Olympic Roster, which will be shared with the public on June 8^th.