Chris Carver

Growing up in the California area, Carver attended Elwood Cubberly High School in greater Palo Alto. She took up synchronized swimming initially around seventh grade, at the urgings of her High School Gymnastics teacher, and also participated in synchronized swimming with the Athens Swim Club. == Coaching career ==

Carver began coaching Campbell, California's Cloverdale Cabana Club Dolphinettes team around 1968, near San Jose. Under Carver's guidance, the team gained sponsorship from the Campbell Community, and on occasion performed for the International Academy of Art. By 1980, Carver was asked by Head Santa Clara Aquamaids Coach Kay Villen to coach age groups 10 and under with the larger and more accomplished nearby Santa Clara team. ==Santa Clara Aquamaids==

Carver started as Head Coach with the Santa Clara team in 1984 after having served four years as a youth coach for their younger synchro team. From 1985-2024, Carver led the Aquamaids to 17 National Championships. In 1984, with 100 members, the Aquamaids were one of the better known and largest synchronized swimming clubs in the country. ==U.S. National Team Coach==

Carver began coaching the U.S. National team around 1987, where she served with the Walnut Creek Aquanuts's Hall of Fame Coach Gail Emery and National Team Director Charlotte Davis. In international competition under Carver between 1987-1996, the U.S. national team won the great majority of competitions. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, four of Chris's swimmers from the Aquamaids were on the 1996 team. Chris served as Head Coach, and as noted also produced the choreography for the American team's first Olympic gold team event medal. With a well-received routine by the judges, Chris's synchro team earned the first 100 point score ever to be tabulated in the team event for synchronized swimming in Olympic competition. Carver also coached the U.S. Olympic team for the 2000 Sydney, and 2004 Athens Olympics. Training methodology as coach An important feature of Carver's technique included training synchro swimmers in gymnastics for flexibility, as well as plyometrics, which builds muscle while maintaining flexibility. Plyometrics can include exercises such as pushups, running, jumping and kicking. In swim training, Carver's elite swimmers averaged 6,000 yards a day, close to 3.4 miles, or 5500 meters to obtain the endurance and strength required of competition. She had been named a U.S. Synchronizeded Swimming coach of the Year an unprecedented 14 times by 2011. ==References==