Nina (L) and Lisa Daniels won bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Sisters Nina and Lisa Daniels will be the first New Zealand synchronised swimmers to compete at an Olympic Games for 24 years.
The Dunedin pair were today named in the New Zealand team to compete at Beijing next year.
The sisters won bronze in the duet event at
the Melbourne Commonwealth Games last year, and have been steadily rising up the world rankings since.
Their form has demonstrated to the selectors a capability of finishing in the top 16 at Beijing next year - the requirement set by the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
Their selection will see the pair follow in the footsteps of sisters Katie and Lynette Sadleir, who represented New Zealand in synchronised swimming at Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.
Nina 25, and Lisa, 22, are based in Toronto, Canada, where they train full time.
The confirmation of their selection follows a high score of 88.083 at the Chinese Open in September and means the duo can now focus on Olympic preparation.
"We're excited to be going to Beijing," said Nina Daniels on her selection.
"We're headed back to Canada tomorrow (Friday) knowing we'll be representing New Zealand at the Olympics and we'll be 100 per cent focused on the road ahead."
The sisters, who both have backgrounds in dance and swimming, have been competing in synchronised swimming since 1994.
They were members of national junior teams and began competing internationally in duet events in 2001.
The sisters have competed at four world championships, in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007.
The pair have been training full time in Toronto for nearly three years at the International Centre of Excellence under coach Sheilagh Croxon.
President of Synchro Swim New Zealand Sue Edwards said the sisters' selection would have a positive impact on the sport in New Zealand.
- NZPA
