SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING: With a blazing sun on their swimming costume and inspiration for music and chorography taken from tarot cards, Australia’s Synchronised swimming duet of Eloise Amberger and Sarah Bombell swam with grace, timing and precision in Day 9’s Technical Routine at the Aquatic Centre.

In the water for over two and a half minutes in front of a sell-out crowd of near 18,000, the girls shook off early nerves to put in a solid performance and finish the first round ranked in 23rd position with Russia leading the way.

Knowing just how difficult it will be to make the top 12 for Tuesday’s final, Amberger and Bombell are realistic about their chances against the super powers of world Synchro, yet like all athletes, still strive for perfection in every swim.

“There is always a never ending quest for perfection" says Amberger with a smile, as well as "trying to do everything while holding your breath" chimes in Bombell.

Training for nine hours a day since arriving in London two days before the Opening Ceremony, and for hours on end in the lead up to the Games, it’s clear this Gold Coast duet is in synch, both in and out of the pool.

In the water they fought hard against stiff opposition from the Russians, Spanish and Commonwealth Champions Canada, while out of the water the pair who have competed together for more than nine years, also competed to finish each other’s sentences in the media zone.

“It was a low score for us and we were hoping to get 80 or above, but as a whole competition they seem to be scoring a little bit lower," Bombell said. 

"But we can’t be too disappointed. This is the Olympics- the toughest competition there is.”

Diving in as the 18th team of 24 to compete, the Aussie duet said they were happy with starting so late in the competition.

“Going early in the competition you run the risk of judges saving points for people who are going better, so to go late was an advantage for us today and we got a good draw today,” Amberger said.

“Throughout the year you swim at a lot of competitions where the judges get to know you and how you are swimming and have an idea of where you’ll be sitting, so you’ve really got to go out there and impress them on the day to prove that you are in that higher scoring bracket.”

“We don’t go into a competition hoping to win. We go into a competition hoping to do our best swim, and if we do our best swim but still come last then we would be happy with that.”

Amberger and Bombell will contest their more favoured Free Section of the duet tomorrow with scores from both routines combined to see the top 12 couples through to the final.

Lachlan Searle in London
Olympics.com.au