Anna Kozlova

{{short description|Russian/American synchronized swimmer}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Anna Kozlova | image =  | image_size =  | alt = | caption = | fullname = Anna A. Kozlova | nicknames = | national_team = {{URS}}<br>{{RUS}}<br>{{USA}} | sport = Synchronized swimming | club = Santa Clara Aquamaids | coach = Chris Carver<br>{{no wrap|(SC Aquamaids, 2000-2004 Olympics)}} | collegeteam = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|12|30|df=y}} | birth_place = Leningrad, Soviet Union | death_date = | death_place = | height = | weight = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Women's synchronized swimming}} {{MedalCountry | the {{URS}}}} {{MedalCompetition|European Championships}} {{MedalGold | 1991 Athens | Duet}} {{MedalGold | 1991 Athens | Team}} {{MedalCompetition|World Cup}} {{MedalBronze | 1991 Bonn | Team<ref name=FINA29>{{cite book|last=Meuret |first=Jean-Louis |title=The History of FINA Vol. 9 |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Natation |pages=29–30 |url=http://www.fina.org/project/docs/histoFina/HistoFINA_IX.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924051803/http://www.fina.org/project/docs/histoFina/HistoFINA_IX.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-09-24 }}</ref>}} {{MedalCountry | {{RUS}}}} {{MedalCompetition|European Championships}} {{MedalGold | 1993 Sheffield | Duet}} {{MedalGold | 1993 Sheffield | Team}} {{MedalCompetition|World Cup}} {{MedalSilver | 1993 Lausanne | Duet}} {{MedalCountry | the {{USA}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}} {{MedalBronze | 2004 Athens | Duet }} {{MedalBronze | 2004 Athens | Team Competition }} {{MedalCompetition|World Aquatics Championships}} {{MedalSilver | 2003 Barcelona | Free Combination<ref name=FINA18>{{cite book|last=Meuret |first=Jean-Louis |title=The History of FINA Vol. 9 |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Natation |page=18 |url=http://www.fina.org/project/docs/histoFina/HistoFINA_IX.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924051803/http://www.fina.org/project/docs/histoFina/HistoFINA_IX.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-09-24 }}</ref> }} {{MedalBronze | 2003 Barcelona | Team Competition<ref name="FINA18" /> }} {{MedalCompetition|World Cup}} {{MedalBronze | 2002 Zurich | Team}} {{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}} {{MedalGold | 2003 Santo Domingo | Duet }} {{MedalGold | 2003 Santo Domingo | Team Competition }} }}

'''Anna Kozlova''' ({{langx|ru|Анна Козлова}}; born 30 December 1972) 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.

==Early life== Kozlova was born in Leningrad, RFSFR, Soviet Union on December 30, 1972,<ref name="SPBio">{{Cite sports-reference |title = Anna Kozlova |url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ko/anna-kozlova-1.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200417235452/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ko/anna-kozlova-1.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = April 17, 2020 |access-date = March 25, 2010 }}</ref> the daughter of a mathematics professor and a swimming instructor.<ref name=citizen>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-5764400_ITM|title=Perfection as a citizen; Russian swims back to Olympics by being patient|last=DeSimone|first=Bonnie|date=June 7, 2000|work=The Chicago Tribune|publisher=Tribune Company|accessdate=February 27, 2010|location=Chicago, IL}}</ref> By 1993, Kozlova trained with the Santa Clara Aquamaids under Hall of Fame Head Coach Gail Emery.<ref name=Carver>{{cite web|url=https://ishof.org/honoree/chris-carver/|title=International Swimming Hall of Fame, Synchronized Swim Coach Chris Carter|website=ishof.org|access-date=January 17, 2025}}</ref>

==Early international career== Kozlova's first international competition was at the 1989 World Cup in Paris, 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.<ref name="SJC">{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-122136160/anna-kozlova-finally-returns.html|title=Anna Kozlova finally returns to Olympics as U.S. synchronized swimmer.|last=Almond|first=Elliott|date=September 22, 2000|work=San Jose Mercury News|publisher=MediaNews Group|accessdate=February 28, 2010|location=San Jose, CA}}</ref><ref group="note">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.</ref>

Kozlova found success in two international competitions in 1991. At the World Cup in Bonn, she won a bronze medal with the Soviet team,<ref name="FINA29" /> and at 1991 European Aquatics Championships in Athens, she paired with Olga Sedakova to win the gold medal in the duet routine competition.<ref name=Duet>{{cite web|url=http://sports123.com/ssw/e-d.html |title=Sports 123 Synch Swimming; European Championships Duet |publisher=Sports 123 |accessdate=February 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616190650/http://sports123.com/ssw/e-d.html |archivedate=June 16, 2011 }}</ref> The Soviet team also captured the team gold medal.<ref name=Team>{{cite web|url=http://sports123.com/ssw/e-t.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040328084136/http://www.sports123.com/ssw/e-t.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 28, 2004 |title=Sports 123 Synch Swimming; European Championships Team |publisher=Sports 123 |accessdate=February 27, 2010 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1992/SYN/womens-solo-figures.html|title=Synchronized Swimming at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Games: Women's Solo Figures|work=Olympics at Sports-Reference.com|author=Kubatko, Justin|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=March 25, 2010| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100318123419/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1992/SYN/womens-solo-figures.html| archivedate= 18 March 2010 | url-status= dead}}</ref> However, the duet with Sedakova was much better, as the team finished in fourth place, one shy of the medals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1992/SYN/womens-duet.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418124617/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1992/SYN/womens-duet.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 18, 2020|title=Synchronized Swimming at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Games: Women's Duet Final|work=Olympics at Sports-Reference.com|author=Kubatko, Justin|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=March 25, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref name="citizen" />

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.<ref name="citizen" /> 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.<ref name="Duet" /> The Russian team also won the gold medal, their first of eight consecutive they would eventually win.<ref name="Team" />

==In the United States==

Shortly after the European Championships in 1993, Kozlova flew to California to attend U.S. Olympic 1996 synchronized team event gold medalist 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7277869_ITM|title=Benefactor played key role in Kozlova defection.|last=Kozlova|first=Anna|date=August 2, 2000|publisher=Knight Ridder/Tribune|accessdate=March 7, 2010}}</ref> As a result of this decision, Kozlova was unable to participate in international competition until she received her U.S. citizenship, which received on 7 October 1999.<ref name="citizen" /> While training with the Santa Clara, California club team, the Santa Clara Aquamaids as noted earlier, she won national titles in solo, duet, and team competitions multiple times.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/siforwomen/news/1999/04/16/spotlight/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030920061824/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/siforwomen/news/1999/04/16/spotlight/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 20, 2003|title=Spotlight: Anna Kozlova, Synchronized Swimming|date=April 16, 1999|work=CNN - Sports Illustrated|publisher=Time Warner|accessdate=February 28, 2010}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-5805516_ITM|title=Swimmer's journey into freedom gains true independence.|last=LeBreton|first=Gil|date=September 9, 2000|publisher=Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service|accessdate=February 28, 2010}}</ref> In the duet competition, Kozlova partnered with Tuesday Middaugh to take fourth place out of 24 pairs competing.<ref name="Sydney">{{cite web|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/2000/Masters/sy/SYresults.pdf|title=Official Report of the XXVII Olympiad; Volume 3; Results|last=Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games|year=2001|publisher=International Olympic Committee|accessdate=March 7, 2010}}</ref> As part of the United States team, she placed fifth in the team competition.<ref name="Sydney" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-122138113/synchro-swimmers-drop-ball.html|title=Synchro swimmers drop the ball, finish fifth.|last=Peterson|first=Gary|date=September 29, 2000|work=Contra Costa Times|publisher=MediaNews Group|accessdate=March 7, 2010|location=Walnut Creek, CA}}</ref> This was the first Olympics the United States did not win a medal in synchronized swimming.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-122138138/u-s-synchronized-swimmers.html|title=U.S. synchronized swimmers fail to medal for first time|last=Harasta|first=Cathy|date=September 29, 2000|work=The Dallas Morning News|accessdate=March 7, 2010|location=Dallas, TX}}</ref>

At the 2002 World Cup in Zurich, Kozlova won her first international medal as an American, winning bronze in the team competition.<ref name="FINA29" /> 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.<ref name="Survey">{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-123765131/survey-says-cover-synchronized.html|title=Survey says: Cover synchronized swimming.|last=Purdy|first=Mark|date=August 25, 2004|work=San Jose Mercury News|publisher=MediaNews Group|accessdate=March 7, 2010|location=San Jose, CA}}</ref> 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.<ref name="FINA18" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-23885754_ITM|title=Santa Clara Aquamaids Put U.S. Back on Podium with Bronze at FINA Games.|last=Sports Editors|date=July 21, 2003|publisher=Business Wire|accessdate= March 7, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-24114385_ITM|title=Santa Clara Aquamaids Help U.S. National Team Win Gold in Duet, Team at Pan-Am Games.|last=Sports Editors|date=August 18, 2003|publisher=Business Wire|accessdate=March 7, 2010}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-13492733_ITM|title=Russians, Japanese lead synchronized swimming.|last=Harris|first=Beth|date=August 24, 2004|work=The America's Intelligence Wire|accessdate=March 7, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/2004/Results/Synchronised%20Swimming.pdf|title=Official Results Book; Athens 2004|last=Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games- Athens 2004|year=2004|publisher=AOCOG|accessdate=March 7, 2010}}</ref> Two nights later, Kozlova won another bronze medal, in the team competition.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-13157268_ITM|title=Olympic Synchronized Swimming Results.|last=Foley|first=Ryan|date=August 27, 2004|work=The America's Intelligence Wire|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=March 7, 2010}}</ref>

==Notes== <references group="note"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}} {{Footer Pan American Champions Artistic swimming women's duet}}{{Footer Pan American Champions Artistic swimming teams}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Kozlova, Anna}} Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:Soviet synchronized swimmers Category:Russian synchronized swimmers Category:Russian emigrants to the United States Category:American synchronized swimmers Category:20th-century American sportswomen Category:Olympic synchronized swimmers for the Unified Team Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in synchronized swimming Category:Synchronized swimmers at the 1992 Summer Olympics Category:Synchronized swimmers at the 2000 Summer Olympics Category:Synchronized swimmers at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in synchronized swimming Category:Synchronized swimmers at the 2003 Pan American Games Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in synchronised swimming Category:Synchronized swimmers at the 2003 World Aquatics Championships Category:Swimmers from Saint Petersburg Category:Sportspeople from Santa Clara, California Category:Medalists at the 2003 Pan American Games Category:21st-century American sportswomen