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U.S. Wins Synchro Swimming Gold

ATLANTA -- It doesn't matter if it's solo, duet or team competition. The United States continues to rule the pool in Olympic synchronized swimming.

The U.S. extended its dominance Friday, winning the gold medal with a near-flawless performance in the sport's first team competition at the games.

Since synchro was added to the games at Los Angeles in 1984, American swimmers had picked up four golds and two silvers. The solo and duet events were replaced this year by a team competition and the U.S. again achieved excellence.

The U.S. finished with a score of 99.720 points and received nine perfect 10s from the judges for their stirring five-minute routine. Only the judge from Switzerland did not give the American team a perfect score.

Canada took the silver with a score of 98.367 and Japan the bronze with 97.753. Those three countries have won every medal awarded in synchronized swimming in the Olympics. Canada now has two golds and five silvers, while all seven of Japan's medals are bronze.

The U.S. went into the free routine competition with a lead of .442 over Canada after Tuesday's technical routine. In the free routine competition, each team is judged on variety, creativity, pool coverage, patterns and transitions.