Sync or Swim (2008)

This week we watched Sync or Swim. Since this is more my girlfriend Hannah’s area, she is writing our blog post for the week. You can visit her Google Plus page here. Enjoy - JS

I am Hannah, Jay’s girlfriend. Jay and I thought it would be fun if we mixed it up and have me write this week’s blog. For our documentary night I chose Sync or Swim, a film that follows a group of synchronized swimmers as they compete for spots on the 2004 U.S synchronized swimming team. This documentary offers an intimate look at this sport that is often misunderstood. I was particularly interested in this film because I used to compete in synchronized swimming as a young adult. I was on the Walnut Creek Aquanuts, an elite synchronized swimming club and 12-time National Champions and winners of over 200 national titles; 17 Olympians, 8 of whom are gold medalists have been former members of the Aquanuts.

Sync or Swim follows nine athletes and their rigorous training schedule. These girls practice six days a week and have one recovery day.  It’s essentially like having an unpaid full time job. This film also examines the media storm that took place just before the 2004 summer olympics. Tammy Crow, one of the key members of the 2004 US synchronized team, was involved in a fatal car crash in February 2003. After staying up almost all night, she skidded off a mountain road and crashed into a tree. Tammy's two passengers died: her boyfriend, Cody Tatro, and a 12-year-old boy, Brett Slinger.

Tammy was driving too fast for the snowy conditions (and the California Highway Patrol claimed she had alcohol on her breath). She was charged with vehicular manslaughter. She pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 3 months of prison and three years’ probation to be served on October 25th. The judge ordered her to pay $23,000 in restitution to the family of Brett Slinger. Tammy was allowed to postpone her jail time until after the Olympics. The average jail sentence for vehicle manslaughter is 10 years depending on the state and a maximum of 20 years.

As you might imagine, the decision to postpone her jail sentence until she was able to participate in the Olympics was extremely controversial. Many people felt that the judge was far too lenient especially considering that she may have been drinking. Others felt that the judge had made the right decision as  she had experienced her own suffering through the death of her boyfriend. As she had devoted her life to representing the United States in the Olympics, they felt she should be able to do so. It is the opinion of this author that the judge made the right decision and she rightfully was allowed to participate.

All in all this was a very interesting documentary. Check it out for yourself.