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The air is brisk and the water feels cold at 6 a.m. Kendra Zanotto is tired and her muscles sore from training. Still, every morning she plunges into the water and practices for 10 hours a day. Her dream is to become a member of the U.S. Olympic team as a synchronized swimmer.
Today she would find out if putting her college education on hold to practice was worth it. Today, she would find out if the crack-of-dawn practices, the cold water, the fatigued muscles were all for nothing. Today she would find out if she would be cut from the Olympic team.
Kendra Zanotto of Los Gatos has been involved with synchronized swimming since she was 12 years old. Not only is she one of the nation's top 11 Olympic hopefuls, she has already earned a place in representing the U.S. on the World Team and also in the Pan American games later this year.
At age 21, Zanotto has dedicated her life to training for the Olympics. Synchronized swimmers at this level undergo grueling cross training in order to be the best swimmers in the world. Unlike some sports, preparation for Olympic-level synchronized swimming consists of strength training, gymnastics, dance, aerobic training, and, of course, the swimming itself.
The Olympic squad makes it look easy, but there is a lot involved in making a performance look seamless. "It's a crazy sport," says Zanotto. "There are so many different dimensions to it." She explains that not only are you in full makeup and costume, but at the same time trying to remember your routine, have perfect timing, keep your body straight, and stay in sync with the other team members. All of this has to be done while upside down under water and remembering to smile when reaching the surface.
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Photograph by Saori Yoneda
The synchronized swimmers join in a circle to share energy and come together before a practice session.
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Zanotto has formed a strong bond with her teammates, many of whom she has been swimming with since she started with the Aquamaids, the synchronized swim club of Santa Clara. "I love everyone on the team. We spend so much time together that we are like sisters," says Zanotto, who prepares herself for how difficult it will be to see three members get cut from the Olympic team. "It's part of competition though, and we know what is involved."
Zanotto loves the sport and decided herself four years ago to become an Olympian. Not only did that involve hours of cross training each day, it also required her take a break from college, which she plans to go back to as soon as possible.
Travel is also a big part of carrying the responsibility of being a high-ranked synchronized swimmer. "I have gotten to travel a lot and I have enjoyed meeting a lot of great people," says Zanotto. Before the summer ends, the Olympic squad will have traveled to Colorado, Barcelona and also Rome, where Zanotto's family will meet her.
Zanotto also enjoys the creativity of the sport and the huge athletic ability that is needed. "On top of everything," says Zanotto, "I get to be an athlete."
World-class athletes in other sports particularly recognize this athletic ability. "Other athletes have a lot for respect for what we do. They are amazed at the flexibility and strength needed," says Zanotto. She also explains that although it may not be harder than some sports, there are more hours of training needed and more mental concentration. Laughing, Zanotto says, "I've seen different types of athletes try this and they have almost ended up drowning."
Zanotto credits her coach, Chris Carver, with coming up with routines that have taken their team to world-class status. "Chris is one of most creative, genius-type people that I have been around. You never know what she is thinking but her ideas work," says Zanotto. She describes Carver as "an intense coach who demands a lot" but sees the results of her high expectations.
Carver, a Saratoga resident, stands at the poolside with loud speaker in hand, watching 16 legs slice through the water with precision and explosive energy. To the untrained eye, it looks like a flawless performance. With cheers from the obviously impressed audience, the team looks to its coach after the music stops. "Can you do that one again, the one part that didn't work?" she asks. "That was three seconds too fast and will affect the technical side," she explains.
Precision is essential in this sport. Practicing one or two seconds of the program can result in hours of practice to get it perfect. Carver has an impressive coaching record to show for her perfection--previous Olympic coach, national coaching staff member, and also head coach of the Aquamaids. She was drafted as the head coach of the Aquamaids in 1984 and is known internationally for her coaching expertise and innovative choreography.
She admits that the hardest part of working with the girls is cutting three more team members from the squad in order to get the Olympic team. All but three of the girls are from the Santa Clara program, with two of them coming from Stanford and one from Riverside. "Having to eliminate any of them has to be the most painful thing in the world," explains Carver.
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Photograph by Saori Yoneda
Saratoga's Chris Carver has served as the coach of the Santa Clara Aquamaids since 1984. She's joined at poolside by Scamper, the team mascot.
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Carver says that she isn't the one who inspires the team, that in actuality coaches are the ones inspired by them. "These are the best of the best and they are motivating to you as a coach," says Carver. "You look at their fight and their desire to excel and are encouraged by their commitment to each other."
Carver explains that the U.S. team was atop the rankings at one time, but many of the team members have retired, forcing the United States to rebuild the team. "This team is bringing it back again," says Carver.
Carver also speaks highly of Zanotto's accomplishments as a swimmer, saying that Zanotto "never stops" even after having to overcome barriers such as scoliosis that can affect the spinal column. Keeping one's body aligned straight is one of the fundamental techniques in synchronized swimming and Zanotto has worked through this obstacle. "She truly carries the spirit of the Olympic games."
And for Kendra Zanotta, her day of judgment has come. Olympic judges have been flown in from around the country to watch the trials. Kendra Zanotto stands at the side of the pool with the other 11 Olympic hopefuls. All of the girls, as close as sisters, hold hands as the judges get ready to read off the names of those that have been chosen for the team. Two of them will not make the team. One more will be cut in the fall, leaving the official United States Olympic Synchronized Swimming Team. The swimmers freeze in place; their hearts race. The moment seems like hours.
"Kendra Zanotto," reads the judge from the list.
For now, she has made it and will have to survive one more cut in the fall in order to keep her spot and get to Athens in 2004.
For now, the rugged early-morning practices will continue.
And for now, the Olympic dream remains very much alive.
The Aquamaids will hold a water show at the International Swim Center Sept. 1921 and 2628. The Olympic team will be featured in the show. For information on obtaining tickets, call 408.369.9209 or visit http://www.Aquamaids.org.
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Photograph by Saori Yoneda