Anna Kozlova
Encyclopedia
Anna Kozlova is a former synchronized swimmer
who competed in three Olympic Games
. After competing in the 1992 Summer Olympics
and winning four European Championships representing the Soviet Union and its successor organizations, she defected to the United States
in 1993. After missing the 1996 Atlanta Games
due to a five-year wait to receive U.S. citizenship, she competed for her new country in Sydney
, where her best placing was fourth. She went on to win gold medals in the Pan-American Games in 2003, before returning to her third and final Olympics in Athens
, where she won two bronze medals.
on December 30, 1972, the daughter of a mathematics professor and a swimming instructor.
, where although she failed to win a medal, she would later credit her impression of the American team at that competition as influencing her 1993 decision to defect to the United States.Note that while Almond's article refers to this event as a World Championships, the World Aquatics Championships were not contested in 1989; the two closest being in 1986
and 1991
, neither of which fit with the rest of Almond's article, including the age he indicates Kozlova was at the time.
Kozlova found success in two international competitions in 1991. At the World Cup in Bonn
, she won a bronze medal with the Soviet team, and at 1991 European Aquatics Championships in Athens
, she paired with Olga Sedakova
to win the gold medal in the duet routine competition. The Soviet team also captured the team gold medal. Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, twelve of the former Soviet Republics chose to compete together at the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona
as the Unified Team
. Kozlova was chosen to compete in both competitions contested, solo and duet
, the duet again with Sedakova.
Kozlova's performance in the solo competition was unremarkable, as she failed to advance past the first day of competition. However, the duet with Sedakova was much better, as the team finished in fourth place, one shy of the medals. Remarkably, Kozlova and Sedakova had to finish the duet competition without a coach, as their coach abandoned them part-way through the three-day competition.
In January 1993, Kozlova and Sedakova traveled to the United States
to train on a temporary visa, where they lived with the family of Atlanta
gold medalists and sisters; Becky Dyroen-Lancer
and Suzannah Bianco
. Returning to Russia, she competed at the 1993 European Aquatics Championships in Sheffield
that August. Leaving the Unified Team concept behind, Russia
competed as an independent nation. Kozlova partnered with Sedakova for the final time at the Sheffield competition, but they repeated their success from 1991, and captured the duet gold medal. The Russian team also won the gold medal, their first of eight consecutive they would eventually win.
to attend Suzannah Bianco's wedding. Kozlova received her green card in 1994, which allowed her to work in the United States, after receiving a gift to pay for an immigration lawyer from a man in a diner who overheard her talking to Carver. As a result of this decision, Kozlova was unable to participate in international competition until she received her U.S. citizenship, which she finally did on 7 October 1999. Although Kozlova could not participate in international competition before she received her U.S. citizenship, she did remain active with a Santa Clara, California
club team, the Santa Clara Aquamaids, where she won national titles in solo, duet, and team competitions multiple times.
Because of the timing of her citizenship application, Kozlova's first major competition as an American was the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney
, and at age 27, she competed at the Olympics under the U.S. flag. In the duet competition, Kozlova partnered with Tuesday Middaugh to take fourth place out of 24 pairs competing. As part of the United States team, she placed fifth in the team competition. This was the first Olympics the United States did not win a medal in synchronized swimming.
At the 2002 World Cup in Zurich
, Kozlova won her first international medal as an American, winning bronze in the team competition. For the 2003 World Aquatics Championships
in Barcelona
Kozlova participated in three events. With new partner Alison Bartosik
, she placed fourth in the duet competition. It was in Barcelona that Kozlova won her first world championship medals with a silver medal in the free combination team event, and a bronze medal in the team technical competition. For the 2003 Pan American Games
Kozlova won two gold medals; with Bartosik she won the duet competition, and they both were part of the U.S. team that won the team competition.
The crescendo of Kozlova's career was at the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
. For the duet competition, Kozlova again partnered with Bartosik. The partnership finished in third place in each of the three routines, which resulted in them finishing third overall, earning them a bronze medal. Two nights later, Kozlova won another bronze medal, in the team competition.
Synchronized swimming
Synchronized swImming is a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing a synchronized routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music....
who competed in three Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. After competing in the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
and winning four European Championships representing the Soviet Union and its successor organizations, she defected to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1993. After missing the 1996 Atlanta Games
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
due to a five-year wait to receive U.S. citizenship, she competed for her new country in Sydney
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, where her best placing was fourth. She went on to win gold medals in the Pan-American Games in 2003, before returning to her third and final Olympics in Athens
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, where she won two bronze medals.
Early life
Kozlova was born in St. Petersburg, RFSFR, Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
on December 30, 1972, the daughter of a mathematics professor and a swimming instructor.
Early international career
Kozlova's first international competition was at the 1989 World Cup in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where although she failed to win a medal, she would later credit her impression of the American team at that competition as influencing her 1993 decision to defect to the United States.Note that while Almond's article refers to this event as a World Championships, the World Aquatics Championships were not contested in 1989; the two closest being in 1986
1986 World Aquatics Championships
The 1986 World Aquatics Championships took place in Madrid, Spain between August 13 and August 23, 1986 with 1119 participating athletes. In swimming, the women's 4×200 m freestyle relay was held for the first time.- Medals table :-Diving:MenWomen...
and 1991
1991 World Aquatics Championships
The 1991 World Aquatics Championships took place in Perth, Australia between 3 January and 13 January 1991 with 1142 participating athletes.- Medals table :-Diving:MenWomen-Open water swimming:MenWomen-Swimming:MenWomen...
, neither of which fit with the rest of Almond's article, including the age he indicates Kozlova was at the time.
Kozlova found success in two international competitions in 1991. At the World Cup in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, she won a bronze medal with the Soviet team, and at 1991 European Aquatics Championships in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, she paired with Olga Sedakova
Olga Sedakova
Olga Sedakova is a former Russian synchronized swimmer who competed at two Olympic Games, won three gold medals in the world championships, and ten golds at the European Championships.-Soviet and Unified Team:...
to win the gold medal in the duet routine competition. The Soviet team also captured the team gold medal. Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, twelve of the former Soviet Republics chose to compete together at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
as the Unified Team
Unified Team
The Unified Team was the name used for the sports team of the former Soviet Union at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. The IOC country code was EUN, after the French name, Équipe Unifiée...
. Kozlova was chosen to compete in both competitions contested, solo and duet
Synchronized swimming at the 1992 Summer Olympics
At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, two events in synchronized swimming were contested, both for women only.In the solo competition, a judge accidentally entered a score of 8.7 instead of 9.7 for Sylvie Fréchette, costing her first place. After appeals by the Canadian Olympic Committee, her...
, the duet again with Sedakova.
Kozlova's performance in the solo competition was unremarkable, as she failed to advance past the first day of competition. However, the duet with Sedakova was much better, as the team finished in fourth place, one shy of the medals. Remarkably, Kozlova and Sedakova had to finish the duet competition without a coach, as their coach abandoned them part-way through the three-day competition.
In January 1993, Kozlova and Sedakova traveled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to train on a temporary visa, where they lived with the family of Atlanta
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
gold medalists and sisters; Becky Dyroen-Lancer
Becky Dyroen-Lancer
Rebekah Dyroen-Lancer is an American competitor in synchronized swimming and Olympic champion....
and Suzannah Bianco
Suzannah Bianco
Suzannah Bianco is an American competitor in synchronized swimming and Olympic champion.She participated on the American team that received a gold medal in synchronized team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.-References:...
. Returning to Russia, she competed at the 1993 European Aquatics Championships in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
that August. Leaving the Unified Team concept behind, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
competed as an independent nation. Kozlova partnered with Sedakova for the final time at the Sheffield competition, but they repeated their success from 1991, and captured the duet gold medal. The Russian team also won the gold medal, their first of eight consecutive they would eventually win.
In the United States
Shortly after the European Championships in 1993, Kozlova flew to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to attend Suzannah Bianco's wedding. Kozlova received her green card in 1994, which allowed her to work in the United States, after receiving a gift to pay for an immigration lawyer from a man in a diner who overheard her talking to Carver. As a result of this decision, Kozlova was unable to participate in international competition until she received her U.S. citizenship, which she finally did on 7 October 1999. Although Kozlova could not participate in international competition before she received her U.S. citizenship, she did remain active with a Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
club team, the Santa Clara Aquamaids, where she won national titles in solo, duet, and team competitions multiple times.
Because of the timing of her citizenship application, Kozlova's first major competition as an American was the 2000 Summer Olympics
Synchronized swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Synchronized swimming at the 2000 Summer Olympics was held in the Olympic Aquatic Centre where 104 competitors challenged for 2 gold medals in the duet and team events. Each event was made up of a technical and free routine with the points added together to determine the medalists.-Medal...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, and at age 27, she competed at the Olympics under the U.S. flag. In the duet competition, Kozlova partnered with Tuesday Middaugh to take fourth place out of 24 pairs competing. As part of the United States team, she placed fifth in the team competition. This was the first Olympics the United States did not win a medal in synchronized swimming.
At the 2002 World Cup in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Kozlova won her first international medal as an American, winning bronze in the team competition. For the 2003 World Aquatics Championships
2003 World Aquatics Championships
Barcelona, Spain was the host city of the X FINA World Aquatics Championships or the 10th FINA World Championships in Aquatics, which were held from July 12 until July 27, 2003....
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
Kozlova participated in three events. With new partner Alison Bartosik
Alison Bartosik
Alison Bartosik is an American competitor in synchronized swimming.She won two Olympic bronze medals at the 2004 Summer Olympics, one in in duet with Anna Kozlova, and one in the team competition.-References:...
, she placed fourth in the duet competition. It was in Barcelona that Kozlova won her first world championship medals with a silver medal in the free combination team event, and a bronze medal in the team technical competition. For the 2003 Pan American Games
2003 Pan American Games
The 14th Pan American Games were held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from 1 to 17 August 2003. The successful bid for the games was made in the mid-1990s, when this country had one of the highest growth rates in Latin America....
Kozlova won two gold medals; with Bartosik she won the duet competition, and they both were part of the U.S. team that won the team competition.
The crescendo of Kozlova's career was at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. For the duet competition, Kozlova again partnered with Bartosik. The partnership finished in third place in each of the three routines, which resulted in them finishing third overall, earning them a bronze medal. Two nights later, Kozlova won another bronze medal, in the team competition.