In this episode, we speak with 4X Pan American Games‘ gold medallist and soon to be 2X Canadian Olympic Jacqueline Simoneau. At home, she’s Jacqueline and in the pool, she goes by Jackie. We hear how her journey to the Olympic pool has been “synchronized” with hard work, a touch of glamour and the loving support of family and friends. We explore how the sport of artistic swimming evolved from the days of vaudeville as well as how gender plays a role in unexpected ways.
Contributing experts include: Lynda South-Simoneau (Mother), Rob Simoneau (Father), Christian Simoneau (Brother), Claudia Holzner (Current Duet Partner for Tokyo), Steven Findlay (Jacqueline’s Boyfriend), Eric Myles (Chief of Sports, Canadian Olympic Committee), and Vicki Valosik (Professor, Georgetown University).
Audio clips from: FINA’s Artistic Swimming World Series 2021’s Jacqueline Simoneau’s ‘Mesmerising Solo Free Routine’, Summer sports’ Jacqueline Simoneau/Karine Thomas – synchronized swimming Duet Final – pan am games toronto 2015, TheThings Celebrity ’12 Strict Rules Synchronized Swimmers Have To Follow’, The Hearts Center Community’s ‘Song – Canadian national anthem “O Canada”—All four verses!’, and CBS Sports’ Synchro Swimmers Karine Thomas and Jacqueline Simoneau – Partnership.
