Team USA Strikes Silver In Team, Duet

March to top of medal stand continues for young team

It may not be gold, but it’s good enough for the rebuilding United States program after silver-medal performances in both team and duet at the 1998 Goodwill Games, July 19-20 at the Goodwill Games Aquatic Center on Long Island, N.Y.

Reigning world champion Russia swept the gold medals in both events. Russia’s delicately balanced lifts and smooth, wavy patterns earned a final routine score of 98.867, bringing the final total score to 98.774 for the gold medal. Team USA’s Native American dance routine, featuring five powerful, steady lifts, placed second at 97.943.

"We were really excited and into the routine," said Team USA member Emily Marsh. "This is the most fun we’ve had in an international competition because of the home crowd and the caliber of athletes competing."

The pair of Olga Brousnikina and Maria Kisseleva earned a score of 99.016 to hold of Team USA’s Bill May and Kristina Lum. The world’s most elite mixed duet placed second at 91.979.

For Lum, a medal finish in duet was just one goal of the pair’s swim.

"We were very focused on what we had to do and were determined to show that not only do men belong in the sport, but they can belong on the medal stand as well," said Lum, who competed despite a serious back injury. "To have such a positive reaction to our swim was amazing. I think we made a statement here."

May and Lum have only competed together twice in history. The pair began training together in September of 1997, and won the Jantzen National Championships duet title on May 2, 1998.

The United States is traditionally stronger in the free routine event than the technical routine event. At the 1997 World Cup, the United States stood in seventh place after the technical event, but finished in fifth place following a free routine which earned the fourth best score. The 1996 U.S. Olympic Team earned a perfect score in the free routine to capture the gold medal.

Team USA is currently emerging from a rebuilding phase. The full retirement of the 1996 Olympic Team cost the United States at the 1997 World Cup where the U.S. placed fifth in team. A third-place finish at the recent World Championships have opened the door for the U.S. to not only medal, but with a strong free routine swim Monday, to possibly win the 1998 Goodwill Games.

The National Team athletes will now return to their clubs to prepare for the 1999 Pan American Games Team Trials, Nov. 13-15 in San Jose, Calif.

For more information, contact Brian Eaton at 917-880-0614.

Duet Final Results

1. Olga Brousnikina, Maria Kisseleva, RUS, 99.016.
2. Bill May, Kristina Lum, USA, 97.979.
3. Miya Tachibana, Miho Takeda, JPN, 97.286.
4. Kasia Kulesza, Jacinthe Taillon, CAN, 96.967.
5. Virginie Dedieu, Cathy Geoffroy, FRA, 95.706.
6. Giada Ballan, Giovanna Burlando, ITA, 94.497.
7. Min Li, Yan Long, CHN, 93.663.
8. Na-Mi Yoo, Yoon-Kyeong Jang, KOR, 93.556.

Team Final Results

1. Russia, 9774.
2. United States, 97.943.
3. Japan, 97.374.
4. Canada, 96.447.
5. France, 95.797.
6. China, 93.961.
7. Korea, 93.920.
8. Italy, 93.621.