USA's Synchro AWD to make history in Japan!

During the week of May 5th, several of our Synchro AWD Ambassadors from USA, Taiwan and Brazil will be joining over 250 swimmers from Japan to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Para Synchro in Japan. The last time Japan extended an invitation to international swimmers with disabilities was in 2006, when Synchro Canada's Kristen Hayes participated in the Para Synchro Exhibition & Festival.

Coach Morita, Director and Co-founder of the JSSA (Japanese Synchronized Swimming Association) for people with disabilities has put together a training clinic, festival and exhibition every 4 years for the past 25yrs. The event has been given formal recognition by the Japan's Prime Minister's Office. Last June 2015 in Taiwan, Coach Morita and her swimmers joined in with 8 other Countries to participate in the 1st Synchro AWD Symposium & Exhibition. The event was so successful it has been stimulating other Countries to recognize the need for more international events for synchro athletes with disabilities, with the hope of adding synchronized swimming as a future Paralympic sport. While in Taiwan, Coach Morita was so excited about the renewed effort by the Synchro AWD Organization & Synchro Taiwan (Coach Julia Startchenko) to include Synchro AWD in global events, that she decided to expand her International Invitation to other Countries this year.

The swimmers from the USA includes 15yr old Raquel Boales (Santa Clara Aquamaids) and 16yr old Corinne Harris (Cypress Synchro) who will make history as being the first USA athletes with disabilities in synchronized swimming to exhibit their talents in Kyoto, Japan. Raquel, who helped co-founded the new Synchro AWD Organization after a special invitation to swim in the 2014 Synchro Canadian Nationals will be participating and coaching in the Japan swim clinic as well as swimming her Star Wars routine in the Exhibition. Synchro AWD Ambassador Corinne Harris of Cypress Synchro of Seaside, Calif. will be swimming her Japanese themed solo routine as well as a duet routine.

Both Swimmers will be representing USA Synchro on behalf of their respective teams/clubs. We wish them great success and awesome recognition. Congrats to all the synchro awd swimmers who continue to make global history for the sport of Synchronized Swimming AND for Synchronized Swimming for Athletes with Disabilities and Special Needs.

For more information, please visit the Synchro AWD website at www.synchroswimawd.org or email us at: awdsynchro@gmail.com

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