Despite all of this, don’t be fooled. The two members of the U.S. Synchronized Swimming Team are really quite different.

In fact, 30-year-old Anna was born in Russia, whereas 19-year-old Alison was born in Arizona. Anna is the intense competitor, Alison, the natural athlete. Anna prefers to stay in the pool late, Alison to catch on fast. Anna wanted to be a ballerina in the Russian Ballet when she grew up; Alison just wanted to be in the water.

It is both the similarities and the differences that make Kozlova and Bartosik such a great pair. Though are longtime members of the Santa Clara Aquamaids Club Team, they have never been paired together before. That is, not until October 2001 when Olympic Coach, and Santa Clara Coach, Chris Carver brought up the possibility of a match. Now, as duet partners, they are collectively preparing to take on the world at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The two couldn’t be more thrilled.

“It was really unexpected to me,” said Bartosik, the youngster. “I was really intimidated because I’d only worked with Chris (Carver) for a couple of years, and Anna had for 10. It has all worked out now though. We’ve grown to be very good friends. We have great communication as a duet and we get along – that’s really important.”

Said veteran Kozlova: “She is a quick study, is very talented and we look almost like sisters, so she was a great choice. We go out together and are very good friends. We’re not just partners who swim together; we’re a good union. It’s actually kind of like a marriage. You have to suit each other or you’ll fight all the time and that’s not good.”

Kozlova understands the importance of duet pairings in Synchronized Swimming. The Olympic veteran took part in her first Olympics in 1992 as a member of the Unified Russian States Team. She finished fourth in the duet – just short of her goal of medaling. Then in 1993 she visited California and the Santa Clara Aquamaids Synchro Club. She was hooked.

“I liked the attitude of the Americans towards life and sport,” she said. “It took a long time, but I finally got my citizenship in September 1999. I enjoy swimming for the U.S. team very much. It is like one big family, very upbeat with good team spirit. Russia isn’t like this – it’s more individual.”

She went back to the Olympics in 2000 hoping to earn her hardware, this time for the U.S., but again her dream barely slipped and she finished fourth in the duet. Now, with Bartosik as her partner, she has confidence things will be different. Their fourth place finish at the 2002 Worlds Cup in Zurich, Switzerland, has pushed them further in hopes of beating out the established Russian, Japanese and Canadian duet teams at the 2004 Olympics.

Spending 8-10 hours a day in the pool, six days a week, is part of their dedicated regimen. They practice from 6 a.m.-12 p.m. with the rest of the U.S. Synchro Team, take a quick lunch and are back in the pool from 1-4 p.m. working on their two duet programs. In synchronized swimming, the Technical Program is made up of required elements. The Free Program is more open to artistic elements and personalized routines. The latter is where Kozlova and Bartosik plan to make their mark.

“We’re swimming a gospel theme for our free duet,” Bartosik said. “This is really unique that we have a dance-type rhythm to our synchro. We’re really pushing the limits.”

The 2004 Olympic Games span before the two synchronized swimmers as the goal of all their hard work and long hours. But for both women, it’s also about passion.

“To me, synchro is not just a sport,” Kozlova said. “I like the team part. Trying to be one with eight other people, perfectly synchronized, is a very unique experience.”

Added Bartosik: “Synchro to me is all about the relationships built over the years. A team is about different personalities, chemistry and friends you’ll keep for the rest of your life. You go for a goal with people you love rather than by yourself.”