THE Olympic sport of synchronised swimming from a Jamaican perspective got its biggest boost to date following impressive performances by 30 swimmers of Synchro Stars Jamaica at the Capitol Classics 2014 which was held in Virginia, USA on Sunday.

The young swimmers were strongly supported by club chairman and vice-president of Synchronised Swimming (ASAJ) Diahann Campbell, head coach Erica Horsfield, team doctor Terry Baker-Ivey, and newly appointed Synchro Stars Jamaica and team 2020 public relations managers Tina Matalon and Michelle Mayne, along with just over 20 travelling parents.

With 297 participants and 80 routines, Jamaica’s synchro stars held their own in 22 routines.

The local girls were well represented on every level — novice and intermediate age group at this meet with national swimmers earning gold, silver and bronze in their respective age group categories.

Highlights National Swimmers 2014:

Age Group 12 and under team – gold (Brianna McKenzie, T’Neil Gooden, Imani Salmon)

Age Group 12 and under solo – silver (T’neil Gooden)

Age Group 13-15 solo – gold (Breann Campbell)

Age Group 16-18 solo – bronze (Joley Campbell)

Age Group 16-18 solo – fourth place ribbon (L’Zane Perry)

The meet demystified the fallacy that the sport is limited to one geographical location as the following schools were represented — St Richards Primary, Jessie Ripoll Primary, Bridgeport Primary, Sts Peter and Paul, Immaculate Prep, Emmanuel Christian Academy, American International School Kingston, Hillel Academy Prep, Excelsior High School, and Immaculate Conception High School.

The event included an educational component of ‘storming de capitol’ — viewing the White House, The Capitol, the Washington Monument and visiting the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

Training was done with the host club (Northern Virginia Nereids) under United States Synchro Programme – International Club Exchange (ICE) where Synchro Stars Jamaica synchronised swimmers attended the host club training session, were trained by them, swam with them and ended with breakfast and a lyme.

The official ‘meet and greet’ of the group was a Jamaica USA Embassy event under the patronage of Ambassador Dr Stephen Vasciannie and his wife.

This was well supported and a pitch was made to the Diaspora to support the sport and the synchronised swimmers who must make it to CISC (Barbados June 25 – July 2) and 2014 UANA Pan Am Synchro Championships (August 10-16, 2014; Riverside, California USA).