Knee has leg up on competition
15-year-old synchro swimmer has been busy in Prince George
Of the 10-person synchronized swimming team Team Newfoundland and Labrador took to the Canada Winter Games, only one athlete competed in all four disciplines.
In addition to the figures, which is compulsory for every swimmer in Prince George, B.C, this week, Emma Knee of St. John’s competed in the solo competition, in duets with Katie Linehan, and as part of an eight-person synchro team.
But it’s nothing new for the soft-spoken 15-year-old.
“I’m used to it,” she says. “I’ve been doing all four since 12 and under, so this will be my fifth year.
“They do a really good job of spacing it out, so I’m not to ever have to do all four in one day.”
Knee says her preference is the solo competition because it forces her to be at her very best.
“No matter how good it gets, there’s no limit on how good it can be. So every practice is always about making it better.”
And there’s a fair bit of practice time.
An average week of training in the months leading into the Games would have Knee in the pool over 20 hours a week.
On top of school, one might think that doesn’t leave a lot of time for Knee to be a teenage girl.
“I don’t get much of that, but I’m always with other teenage girls, so I get to enjoy it at the same time,” Knee says, adding cheerfully, “they’re like my family.”
Knee was introduced to the sport through her mother Krista Andrews, a former swimmer from Corner Brook who coached the Aurora Synchronized Swimming Club for over a decade.
The household, which includes little sister Haley, is a single parent one, and with both daughters involved in the sport, there’s no doubt Andrews feels the financial pinch at times.
“It’s incredibly difficult for a dual parent family, let alone a single parent family, given the cost of sport is phenomenal,” says Team NL coach Jackie Hiscock.
Pool time is not cheap, competition swimsuits can cost upwards to $500, and travel is necessity.
“The only way we can get these athletes to a level where they are comparable with the rest of the of the country is to bring them to competitions,” Hiscock said.
Knee has been fortunate the past two years, having received a Premier’s Athletic Award, valued anywhere between $500 and $1,500 dollars.
“It does help defray some of the cost, but it’s just a small, small portion,” she said.
The effort put forth by her mother to ensure her and Haley’s continued involvement in the sport isn’t lost on Knee.
“There are no words to be able to describe everything she’s given up and had to put aside,” Knee says. “I’m really appreciative.”
There could be educational opportunities by way of scholarships in the United States after Knee graduates, but her primary goal is cracking the under-18 national team roster.
She came close last year, finishing in 27th place of out 200 swimmers in figures at the national championships, which enabled her to pre-swim at the national team trials.
“We’re a sport of decimal places and she was literally decimal places out of the Top 25,” said coach Hiscock. “Emma’s the first in many, many years to achieve that goal.”
“Hopefully it’ll happen pretty soon,” Knee says of making the under-18 team, “and I’m not going to stop until it happens.”
“No matter how good it gets, there’s no limit on how good it can be. So every practice is always about making it better.” Emma Knee Team NL synchonized swimmer “The only way we can get these athletes to a level where they are comparable with the rest of the of the country is to bring them to competitions.” Jackie Hiscock Team NL coach Hopefully it’ll happen pretty soon, and I’m not going to stop until it happens. Emma Knee Team NL synchonized swimmer