Former GB athlete 'transforms' synchro swimmers

A group of synchronised swimmers in their 50s, 60s and 70s say an international athlete has helped to "transform" their performance.

Jo Penney, 54, from Nailsea, North Somerset, represented Great Britain as an artistic swimmer when she was 15, retiring from national competitions aged 22.

After 28 years out of the water, Ms Penney is now competing again as a master and using her skills to coach the Almost Synchro group in Bristol.

"She's really sharpened us up, she's really motivating us and works us really hard," said Liz Banks, who joined the group six years ago.

Ms Penney said she was inspired to start competing again after teaching the group the skills she learned growing up.

"I sometimes get in the water and demonstrate things to them and do little parts of routines, and I thought 'wow I can still actually do this' so I decided to compete in the National Masters competition in Sheffield last summer and won a silver medal.

"Then I really got the bug for it again and thought right, next year is going to be a big year for me I'm going to do four competitions ending with the World Championships in Singapore.

"So I did the Holland Open, the French Open, a regional one and also the Singapore Masters Championships."

Almost Synchro was formed in 2019 to celebrate the centenary of Bristol's Henleaze swimming lake, and to be able to perform in open water all year round.

The group is the first outdoor synchro team in the country and featured on Paris Metro billboards to advertise the Olympic Games last year.

"It's been fabulous, having Jo with us has finessed us and transformed our performance," said Allison Johnston, who set up the group.

"I think we feel like we've got some skills now, we can actually call ourselves synchronised swimmers."