Submitted by Linai Vaz DeNegri, Ph.D.

The 2002-03 season was a successful season for our national teams. We made crucial strides towards our higher goal to regain international dominance in our sport. Our many efforts launched towards that goal are starting to produce results and we see our athletes improve and receive accolades throughout the world arena. Our efforts include enhancing our approach to training, reintroducing science to help us calibrate our regimen and chart our progress, using technology to help us improve, unifying our coaches to increase cooperation and take advantage of our combined expertise to make our overall program stronger and even more effective.
It is an honor to serve as National Team Director and be part of this effort. The over-riding goal is Peak Performance and the Relentless Pursuit of Excellence. The ultimate goal next year is to medal in Athens. Today we are closer to that goal than we have been in previous years.
Many thanks to the all who made this possible: our outstanding athletes, incredible coaches, amazing office staff, committed judges and supportive friends from the entire country. The following is an overview of the year.

NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING:
For the second year in a row we had all three national teams train in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Center. Team 1, in addition, trained also at home in California thanks to an agreement with the Santa Clara Aquamaids Club. The ability of having all three teams train in Colorado Springs has enabled us to start a more systematic and unified approach to our training. In addition, the training in altitude has also been positive as our athletes gain the training advantage of increased levels of hemoglobin and hemocrit in the bloodstream, which invariably translates itself into better sea-level performances. In addition, the OTC offers a variety of services and resources to elite level athletes such as sports medicine, sports science, athlete support and the unique opportunity to meet other Olympic and aspiring Olympic athletes throughout campus.

Team 1:
Training was long and intense for our Team 1 athletes. This has been the earliest we have ever assembled for an Olympic Training Squad and training began early in February. Our team went twice to Colorado Springs and underwent several tests and took advantage of great technology to help training. The team also trained in the bay area where most athletes reside - this has allowed us for a gradual transition to a possible year-round training in a resident program. We selected the final team for both World Championships and Pan American Games in May and intensified training efforts a step further to prepare for the summer challenges.
2003 World Championships - Bronze in Barcelona! Our Team 1 was outstanding at the FINA World Championships! The team won the bronze medal in team - our first medal in a World Championship since 1994! In addition our athletes took the silver medal and the new combo event. This result is an important one when one considers the extremely tough competition along with the pressures of the upcoming Olympic Games. Our team had to contend with powerful out-of-the-pool factors such as the overwhelming crowd support for the local and strong team of Spain along with some anti-American sentiments encountered in part because of world politics and in part because Spain was aimed high at a medal in team. All in all our team rose to the occasion and was able to turn the situation in our favor. Our duet of Anna Kozlova and Alison Bartosik also performed very well finishing third in the final free routine swim but narrowly missing the bronze in the total score. Anna Kozlova swam an outstanding solo performance (the last in her stellar career) to finish fifth in a highly competitive field. Many thanks to our Team 1 staff led by Head Coach Chris Carver and ensemble assistant coaching staff of Michelle Costanza, Linda Witter, Sue Nesbitt and Tammy McGregor as well as team manager, Nancy Hines. Our athletes were: Alison Bartosik, Erin Dobratz, Mary Hofer, Becky Jasontek, Anna Kozlova, Sara Lowe, Lauren McFall, Stephanie Nesbitt, Katie Norris and Kendra Zanotto along with Tammy Crow. Our judge in Barcelona was Barbara McNamee.
Results:
Solo: 1. Virginie Dedieu, FRA (99.251), 2. Anastasia Ermakova, RUS (97.417), 3. Gemma Mengual, Spain (97.334), 4. Myia Tachibana, Jpn (96.667), 5. Anna Kozlova, USA (95.751)
Duet: 1. Davidova/Ermakova, RUS (99.084); 2. Tachibana/Takeda, JPN (98.084), 3. Mengual/Tirados, Spain (96.667), 4. Bartosik/Kozlova, USA (96.334), 5. Letourneau/Stewart, CAN (95.417)
Team: 1. Russia (99.500), 2. Japan (98.333), 3. USA (97.500), 4. Spain (97.167), 5. Canada (96.333)
Combo: 1. Japan (98.500), 2 (tied) USA and Spain (97.333), 4.Canada (96.000), 5. China (93.833)

Roma Sincro: As part of key preparations for the summer main events our team competed in Rome for the XXI Roma Sincro Invitational. This type of competition is critical for our top team as we often are in disadvantage to our competitors who compete in front of international judges and against each other much more often then we do (partly because of geographical boundaries). Given that reality our trip to Italy was very important. Our team finished first in every event and was able to work out many "kinks" in the routines leading up to Barcelona. Our judges were Pam Edwards and Carol Tackett.
Results:
Team: 1. USA (97.333), 2. Brasil (91.833), Switzerland (89.333), Duet: Bartosik/Kozlova, USA (94.000), 2. Spaziani/Zaffalon, ITA (91.417), 3. Brunner/Schmid, Sui (90.751), Solo: Kozlova, USA (95.667), 2. Zaffalon, ITA (92.333), 3. Schmid, Sui (91.000)
Pan American Games: As this report is written we prepare to leave to the Dominican Republic to compete at the Pan Ams. The program includes team and duet competition. Good Luck USA!

Team 2:
Team 2 had a successful training and a successful competition. The focus was on improving skills and the overall training. The team was unable to compete abroad given the financial reality of costs associated with it along with the early timing of the Swiss Open. Instead we opted to compete at the newly international meet of the US Open. Team 2 took full advantage of training at the Olympic Training Center, the team underwent a series of PET related activities that served to start a new database of important parameters to chart their progression as these athletes improve and become Team 1 members in the near future. This squad trained hard and came together remarkadely well. Team 2 was composed of Janet Culp, Jennie Culp, Kate Hooven, Becky Kim, Liz Markman, Ashley McHugh, Kim McKinley, Lindsey Newbill, Andrea Nott, and Kim Probst. The Head coach was Sue Nesbitt, the assistant coach was Lianne Cameron-Vrielink and the manager was Denise Shively assisted by Anna Eng. Our judges were Irene Hawes and Kris Olson.

The US Open: The meet was a tremendous success with many countries coming to participate. Our performance was a solid one. The team reached its goals of focusing on improving skills -- having a successful training led into a successful performance. The team was narrowly beaten by China whose stronger technique and swimmers' overall level of execution was a clear asset against our strengths in both choreography and routine delivery. Our athletes did an outstanding job and we are very proud of them. Congratulations swimmers, coaches, judges and managers!

Junior Team:
The Junior Team had also a successful training preparation in Colorado Springs. The athletes came from six different clubs and the coaches went right to work to match routine swimming styles, reviewing and unifying key technique work and learning the routine. The athletes will be swimming the same routine for next year's Junior Word Championships, so work done this year will most certainly help us for this important event in 2004. The challenge of improving in figures (given the current international reality of our opponents) was a clear goal for us. However, this focus has to also exist in all clubs alike during the regular season - otherwise we will not fully reach our goal in figures. The athletes competed very well at the US Junior Open in a fierce competition with Canada's junior team. Our juniors did an excellent job staying very competitive and getting better as the meet went along. The Junior Team was composed of Brooke Abel, Poppy Carlig, Danielle Kramer, Barbara Nesbitt, Leah Pinette, Erin Bell, Christina Jones, Nicole Langley, Annabelle Orme, and Lesley Wallace. Head Coach was Tammy McGregor assisted by Khadija Cutcher. Our manager was Denise Shively assisted by Anna Eng. Our judges were Joyce Pietras and Linda Lohendorf. Several consultants were also at hand to work with both juniors and seniors in Colorado Springs, these were: Jenny Ekhilevsky, Lori Eaton and myself. Congratulations once again athletes, coaches, judges and managers!

NATIONAL TEAM COACHES RETREATS CONTINUE:
Our efforts continue to be strong in this area. This last season we met twice to discuss our goals and ways to help our nation improve its elite and up-and-coming athletes. These meetings are paramount to allow us to continue to built our trust, communication, and agree on issues and solutions to get there. The ultimate goal is to foster our ability to work together as a team to the betterment of synchronized swimming! The first meeting this season was held in Colorado Springs in conjunction with the Coaches College in December. Our second meeting was held a day after Sr. Nationals in Long Island, NY in April. Many thanks to the national team of coaches who are embracing these new ideas and working together to achieve our goals! Our next meeting is scheduled for the preceding days of the second edition of our Coaches College, this fall in Colorado Springs.

P.E.T. - SYNCHRO'S PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT GROUP:
The Synchro PET group continues to grow and continues to progress in its goal to help our national team athletes improve. This joint effort between the national team program and the USOC sports science and sports medicine departments is aimed at a comprehensive approach to training by bringing together a group of experts to evaluate, assess and monitor our athletes on a systematic basis as well as help us in the planning of a comprehensive training regimen for all of our athletes. This is already producing great results!
This season our PET was responsible for:
· Blood work (that measure important data such as: iron levels, over-training parameters, altitude adaptation and others)
· Elite Athlete Profile Test Battery (including review of medical history, vitals, Dental screening, vision screening, orthopedic screening and evaluation, physical evaluation and review of laboratory tests)
· Biomechanic Analysis of underwater and above water skills (Dartfish)
· DartFish Software Technology in Routine and Technique Review (instant feedback camera/computer system that aids "muscle memory" and increase efficiency in cleaning routines, patterns and analysis of sculling and technique in general)
· General Strength & Conditioning Parameters (strength assessments and flexibility)
· Body alignment review technology (prototype being developed that include strobes and sound devices to allow athletes to correct mistakes instantly)
· Body Composition Tests (general body density)
· Training Room Visits & Injury Care and Prevention
· Sport Psych Sessions (with PET Synchro sport psychologist Peter Haberl)
· Nutrition Services, Assessment and Support
· Media Training and more…

SENIOR AND JUNIOR ROUTINE TRAINING CAMP AND JUNIOR ELITE CLINIC:
The 2002-03 clinic was held in San Antonio last November with the great help of volunteers from San Antonio Cygnets and the University of the Incarnate Word. The clinic had two main objectives: (1) that aimed at teaching/learning of the routine for Phase 3 of both Junior and Senior Team Trials and (2) provide an elite clinic to help our up and coming juniors.
The trials routine also served as the Olympic Trials routine. Many thanks to Anna Eng, who learned the routine from me, and helped by demonstrating it at the camp. The clinic event counted with the help of several of our judges as well as coaches Jenny Ekhilevsky and Kaaren Babb. Thank you!

OLYMPIC DUET AND OLYMPIC TRAINING SQUAD TRIALS:
The Olympic duet and team trials were held in January in Federal Way, Washington. The event was a great success -- many thanks to our legions of PNA volunteers, led by Mike Dunwiddie! Congratulations to Alison Bartosik and Anna Kozlova who were crowned as the US Olympic Duet at this event as well as Tammy Crow, Erin Dobratz, Mary Hofer, Becky Jasontek, Sara Lowe, Lauren McFall, Stephanie Nesbitt, Andrea Nott, Katie Norris, Gina Pietras, and Kendra Zanotto who were also selected at our Olympic Training Squad.
This event also served as the Phase 3 for both the 2003 Junior National Team and the 2003 Team National Team 2. Every athlete and coach at this event received from me a complete comment sheet enlisting areas of strength and weaknesses designed to help their training and strategies for improvement.

OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS - Continued:
In May we held out Technical Routine Trials, which served to name four more athletes to the formal roster for Athens 2004. These athletes were: Becky Jasontek, Sara Lowe, Lauren McFall and Stephanie Nesbitt. Congratulations! Final downsizing occurs in December as we select three more athletes to constitute the top nine who will represent the US at the Olympic Games next year in Athens.

FINA CLINICS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS EFFORTS:
We continue to foster opportunities to gain international exposure and fulfill important international relations functions. These are highlighted below:
· International Clinic for Coaches in Mexico, September 2002. Clinician: Linai Vaz DeNegri.
· International Clinic at Dominican Republic, December. Clinicians: Charlotte Davis and Gail Emery
· International Clinic in Mexico, December 2002. Clinicians: Gail Emery and Tammy Crow
Scheduled:
· FINA TSSC Clinic after Qualifying Event in Athens, April 2004.
o Linai Vaz DeNegri - Balance and Extension
o Linai Vaz DeNegri - Energy and Strength in Choreography
· FINA TSSC Clinic after Junior World Championships in Moscow, July 2004.
o Linai Vaz DeNegri - Biomechanic Principles in Sculling

INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING TRIPS:
Just one scouting trip was possible this year. This trip was to Japan to observe the 2003 Japan Open as well as take advantage of the unprecedented invitation to see firsthand the state-of-the-art Japan Institute of Sports Medicine where the Japanese national team now trains as a resident program year-round. The report of that trip is available as a separate document. In addition we counted with the help of coaches Nathalie Bartleson and Tammy McGregor who both video and observed the Sr. European Championships and the Canadian Nationals, respectively.

COACHES COLLEGE II:
We are very excited about repeating this success! Make sure you come and be part of this great event, which is posed to help all and every participant with great tips and great information designed to help the development of synchronized swimming in every level. Come join national team of coaches and me -- December 5-7 in Colorado Springs -- and discover what is behind this great event!

Respectfully Submitted,

Linai Vaz DeNegri, Ph.D.
National Team Director