25 June 2008
A Victoria University student has been selected as part of the first Australian synchronised swim team to qualify for an overseas Olympics.
Tarren Otte, 24, who is studying to be a secondary school sports teacher, will make her first Olympic appearance in Beijing as part of the nine-member national team.
The sport made its debut at the 2000 Sydney Olympics with Australia as host nation, with that year's team coming a notable eighth.
The current Olympic team clinched first place at the Oceania Olympic qualifying event in 2007 to be eligible for this year's Olympics.
Tarren said: "It's pretty exciting that we have come such a long way in such a short time and have been able to qualify off our ability."
The Port Melbourne resident can't wait to achieve a childhood dream of going to the Olympics, in a sport she first tried as a nine-year-old.
She said: "I was spotted in primary school by the manager of the Victorian team when I was at swimming lessons. She asked me to come along and give it a go and I've loved it ever since."
Tarren said that while synchronised swimming - with its stereotype of flowered bathing caps and dazzling smiles - perhaps seems like the most effortless event in the Olympic Games, there is much more to it than what appears on the surface. Besides demanding strength, endurance, flexibility, grace and artistry, it requires exceptional breath control.
"The hardest technique is probably learning to hold your breath for quite long periods of time, while moving your arms and legs and keeping your lines and pattern."
Unusual but vital equipment is used in the sport, including clips to prevent water from entering the nose, gelatine to keep the hair in place, waterproof make-up, and underwater speakers.
While Tarren is now firmly focused on helping to improve the team's ranking at Beijing, she is also making post-Olympics plans.
She will complete her Graduate Diploma of Education in Applied Science next year, by which time she hopes she will have introduced her beloved sport to scores of girls in Melbourne's west.
With the help of the team's head coach, Anna Neoptacheva - who is regarded as one of the best choreographers in the business - Tarren plans to build up a weekly synchronised swimming club at VU's 25-metre Footscray Park Campus swimming pool.
She said; "There has been nothing like this in the western suburbs before. Once the Olympics are over, that will be my next challenge."
A photo of Tarren in competition is available on request
Tarren Otte studies at Footscray Park Campus and is available for interview
Media Contact: Ann Marie Angebrandt, Media Officer
Marketing and Communications Department, Victoria University
Ph: (03) 9919 5487
