INDIANAPOLIS – USA Synchro has selected Anita Alvarez (Kenmore, N.Y.) and Mariya Koroleva (Concord, Calif.) as the duet for the 2016 U.S. Olympic qualification synchronized swimming team.
Alison Williams (Moraga, Calif.) has been selected as the alternate.
The duet is subject to approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee and qualification for the 2016 Olympic Games by Team USA. The U.S. team and duet will compete in an Olympic Qualification Tournament in March 2016.
The announcement was made following the final phase of trials Saturday in Orinda, Calif.
“Anita and Mariya have the same way of swimming – they complement each other well,” USA Synchro High Performance Director Myriam Glez said.
“Mariya is solid, experienced and reliable, and Anita brings length and lightness to the duet. We hope to see them grow as a duet with new choreography and presentation.”
Alvarez and Koroleva, a 2012 Olympian, finished sixth at the French Open in March in their first competition together as a duet. They also competed at the FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia, in July, finishing 11th in duet free and 12th in duet tech.
Alvarez and Koroleva were members of the U.S. teams that won gold at the 2015 U.S. Open (team tech) and the 2015 U.S. National Synchronized Swimming Championships. They were also on the U.S. squad that won team bronze at the 2015 Pan Am Games.
Koroleva made her Olympic debut at the 2012 Games, finishing 11th in duet with Mary Killman.
Swimming news courtesy of USA Synchro.