The Road to Athens begins in Seattle when the Weyerhaeuser-King County Aquatic Center plays host to the 2003 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Synchronized Swimming Duet on Jan. 17-20, 2003, announced today by Synchro Swimming USA.

The 2004 U.S. Olympic Team - Synchronized Swimming Duet will be the first two U.S. athletes selected for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. The Trials are exactly 573 days before the Opening Ceremonies of the 2004 Olympic Games. The early date is necessary to prepare the team to compete in four major international events prior to the Games - the 2003 FINA World Championships, 2003 Pan American Games, and 2004 FINA World Cup and Olympic Qualifying Open.

"The Weyerhaeuser-King County Aquatic Center is one of the best facilities in North America, and we're fortunate to have a strong relationship with U.S. Synchronized Swimming," WKCAC Director Mike Dunwiddie said. "The 2003 Olympic Trials will be a great duet competition drawing the finest elite athletes America has to offer. We're very excited to have won this event."

The Technical Duet event kicks off the Trials on Friday, Jan. 17, followed by the Free Duet event, local team performances and Olympic Duet announcement on Saturday, Jan. 18. Also on the schedule will be the 2003 World Championships and Pan American Games Team Trials to be conducted Jan. 19-20.

The Olympic Trials will be broadcast tape-delayed at a time and date to be determined.

The WKCAC facility has hosted more than a dozen national synchro competitions since the doors opened in 1990, including the 2002 Esynchro Age Group Championships (the world's largest meet), the 2001 Esynchro Junior World Championships and the 1999 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, plus the upcoming 2003 United Airlines Open slated for July 13-19.

"We are very honored to be returning to our home away from home at the Weyerhaeuser-King County Aquatic Center," said USSS President Betty Hazle. "Mike Dunwiddie and the King County Parks Department have been very supportive of our organization and development programs in the past, and we look forward to an exciting and successful Olympic Trials there in January."

In June of 1999, Seattle hosted the sport's Trials for the 2000 Olympics as well. The Indiana University Natatorium hosted the 1984, 1988 and 1995 Olympic Trials. Pasadena hosted the sport's Olympic Trials in 1992. The United States has earned five gold and two silvers in nine Olympic competitions to date.

U.S. Synchronized Swimming is the National Governing Body of synchronized swimming in the United States. Based in Indianapolis, Ind., Synchro Swimming USA governs and sanctions competition for more than 200 clubs across the United States, and selects and trains three U.S. National Teams to represent the United States in international competitions.