Synchro Swimming: MV's Kinney In Beijing

On Friday the USA Synchronized Swim Team will compete at the Olympic Games in Beijing. Mission Viejo’s Meghan Kinney is a member of the team (team photo below).

Taylor Payne of United States Synchro Swimming contacted the Dispatch from Beijing describing Meghan’s daunting role as the sole team alternate: “She must know every swimmer’s part of both the technical and free routines, which is more difficult than being a member who only must learn her own part,” said Taylor.

Two sessions will take place at the Water Cube. On Friday the technical competition will be held, while the artistic free style performance is scheduled on Saturday.

Meghan is the daughter of Paul and Ann Kinney. She previously competed in speed swimming and has received numerous recognitions:

2007 – Nominated as the alternate to the 2007 U.S. Pan American and 2008 U.S. Olympic Teams; FINA World Championships: Combo 3rd; FINA World Trophy Cup: Combo 2nd
2006 – Junior National Championships: Duet 1st, Team 1st; U.S. National Championships: Team 6th; Junior World Championships: Solo 9th, Team 9th, Combo 7th
2005 – Junior National Championships: Team 1st, Solo 9th, Trio 3rd; U.S. National Championships: Team 5th; U.S. Open: Figures 5th, Team 2nd; Junior Pan American Games: Team 2nd, Combo 1st
2004 – Junior National Championships: Team 3rd, Trio 2nd
2003 – Junior National Championships: Team 8th, Trio 7th; U.S. Age Groups: Solo 2nd, Figures 1st; U.S. Open: Team 4th, Trio 2nd
2002 – U.S. Age Groups: Team 2nd, Solo 2nd, Trio 2nd, Figures 2nd
2001 – U.S. Age Groups: Team 1st, Solo 6th, Trio 3rd, Figures 7th [source: US Synchronized Swimming, Inc.] [Photos by Brian Horii]

In the duet competition, the US pair of Christina Jones and Andrea Nott finished fifth in both technical and overall scores. The Russian twosome, after ten years of competing together, took the gold medal.