World silver medallists Kate Shortman and Izzy Thorpe were named today by the British Olympic Association (BOA) as Team GB’s sole artistic swimmers for Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The duet who will be competing at their second Olympic Games were announced at the SEA LIFE London Aquarium.
Historic performances at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha in February saw Thorpe and Shortman secure Britain’s quota spot in the Olympic artistic swimming duet events by virtue of their silver medal in the Tech Duet and bronze in the Free Duet – the first-ever global duet medals for Britain in artistic swimming.
Following their Olympic debut in Tokyo, where they placed 14th, they have gone on to become one of the leading international duos in the sport, with their results including a European medal for Team GB at the European Games in Poland last year along with gold most recently at the Olympic test event.
The Olympic Tech Duet session in Paris takes place on Friday 9th August, with the Free Duet final – when the medals are decided – the following day on Saturday 10th August.
Mark England, Team GB Chef de Mission for Paris 2024, said; “Since Izzy and Kate made their Olympic debut in Tokyo three years ago, they have gone from strength to strength.
“We were delighted to see them qualify for the Paris Games earlier this year in style, through winning GB’s first ever global duet medal in artistic swimming, with their World silver medal. And to see them follow this up with gold at the recent test event is testament to the hard work and dedication they, and their team, have put in.”
Aquatics GB Artistic Swimming Manager Karen Thorpe added: “We are very excited to be selected to go to the Olympic Games for the second time with Iz and Kate, especially following the recent success at the World Championships and World Cup.
“We feel this is putting us in a very strong position to be real medal contenders at the Games. I think we can show the community and the country that there is an opportunity for people not just to run or swim fast, but also to be creative and be involved in a team sport – we are one of the only sports to be able to boast both those things.
“We obviously want to do a great performance while we’re out there and hopefully do the country proud. I know that the athletes would like to inspire the next generation of artistic swimming athletes and showcase it out to increase the participation of boys and girls in the country in our sport.
“The dedication that Iz and Kate have shown, not just over the last four years but a full lifetime of work will hopefully be the biggest factor in our aim to bring those medals back from the Games.”
On the prospect of a first Olympic appearance with spectators in the stands, Izzy said: “I’m so excited to have been selected for my second Olympic Games. I’m really looking forward to swimming in front of lots of friends and family, and hopefully making them and the country proud.”
Duet partner Kate added: “Being selected for Paris is so exciting! There’s even more ‘fight’ going into it this time around because we already have the experience of Tokyo. We are so excited to swim in front of our friends and family and feel them cheering us on loudly from the audience.”
With thanks to Team GB
