Swimming: Three set for competition in Oz

The often-maligned sport of synchronised swimming is growing from strength to strength in Tauranga.

Participation numbers have doubled since last year, and for the first time three swimmers from Tauranga have been selected by Synchronised Swimming New Zealand to compete overseas.

They will travel to Melbourne in two weeks to compete in the Australian National Championships against swimmers from Australia, New Caledonia, Singapore and Malaysia.

Sarsha Younger, Tauranga's most experienced swimmer, will compete in the Senior Solo with both a free and technical routine.

"The technical solo means there are a number of complex figures that have to be completed in order within a choreographed piece of music, while in the free routine you have more creativity to express yourself," said Younger.

She is in her second year of Health Studies at Auckland University, but still swims with the Tauranga club.

"We are lucky to have a wonderful coach, Julieta Diaz from Argentina, who swum at the World Champs a few years ago. She is great on both choreography and technique, so I feel I get the best coaching by travelling back to Tauranga regularly.

"My ultimate goal is to compete in the Universiade Games and the World Championships, and hopefully the Commonwealth Games if synchronised swimming is on the programme for the Gold Coast in 2018."

Up-and-coming junior swimmers, Jazzlee Thomas and Eva Morris, will also represent Tauranga in Melbourne.

Thomas is in Year 10 at Bethlehem College and Morris is in Year 11 at Tauranga Girls' College. They have been swimming together as a duet for only 18 months and are the National Duet Champions in their age group. Thomas is also the National Solo champion, while Morris placed third.

"To travel overseas to compete, you need to achieve a high score in both figures and routines," said coach Diaz.

"Eva and Jazzlee will be competing together as a duet in the 13-14-15 age category, and will also be performing a solo each. They are very committed, training over 14 hours a week working on flexibility, strength and conditioning, as well as perfecting their skills and routines.

"Synchronised swimming is a very demanding sport.

"They are in sync both in and out of the water, and despite seeing each other four days a week at training, still talk to each other on their days off."

On their return from Australia, the girls will rejoin their fellow club members to build up to the North Island Championships which will be held in Tauranga on July 27-28.