Sydney, 26 September 2000, Games of the XXVII Olympiad. Synchronized swimming: Olga BRUSNIKINA (L) and Maria KISSELEVA from Russia wave to the audience after receiving their gold medals for the duet competition. Credit: Getty Images/Ross Kinnaird

Born: 9 November 1978

Birthplace: Moscow (Russia)

Nationality: Russia

Sport: Aquatics

ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Atlanta 1996

Sydney 2000

Athens 2004

AWARDS

Olympic medals:

Gold: 3

Living Upside Down

Olga Brusnikina first attracted attention when, at the age of 14, she performed a mesmerizing solo routine at the 1993 world junior synchro championships that earned her a standing ovation. When team synchronized swimming was added to the Olympic programme in 1996, Brusnikina was a member of the Russian team that placed fourth.

In Sydney 2000 the duet result was never in doubt. Brusnikina and her partner, Maria Kisseleva, swam a karate-themed free routine, performed to Japanese drums, and earned straight 10's for artistic interpretation and technical merit scores of 10 from four of the five judges.

Brusnikina won a second gold medal as a member of the Russian squad in the team event. Four years later, at the Athens Olympics, she earned another gold medal in the team event. Brusnikina, who had been a synchronized swimmer since she was nine years old, once explained, "After so many years of training, I feel at home in the water. I'm used to having my feet point upward. I'm used to living upside down."