Kanako Kitao
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women's synchronized swimming | ||
Representing  Japan
| ||
| Olympic Games | ||
 |
2004 Athens | Team |
Representing  United States
| ||
| World Championships | ||
 |
2017 Budapest | Mixed duet free |
|
2017 Budapest | Mixed duet technical routine |
Kanako Spendlove (スペンドラブ 佳奈子, Spendlove Kanako, née Kitao (北尾), born 6 February 1982) is a Japanese-American synchronized swimmer who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics for Japan, and won a silver medal.[1]
After the 2004 Summer Olympics, Spendlove performed for Cirque du Soleil[2] and she renounced her Japanese citizenship in December 2015.[3] During this time, she found her own fashion brand, Perolagua.[4]
Spendlove is continuing synchro-swimming in mixed duet, partnering with Bill May[3] since 2016.[5] The pair met on their respective first national team outings in 1996.[6] Together, they won the bronze medals in the mixed duet free routine and the mixed duet technical routine at the 2017 Synchronized Swimming World Championships.
References[edit]
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Kanako Kitao". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ^ "Champion Swimmers become Circus Stars - Athlete to Artist - O - Cirque du Soleil". YouTube. Cirque du Soileil. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ a b Majoros, Kevin (9 February 2017). "Synchronized swimmer finds hope after decades of exile". Washington Blade. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ "Perolagua Facebook Page". Facebook. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ "Bill May Continues Quest to The Olympics With New Duet Partner Kanako Spendlove". Inside Synchro. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
- ^ "Twice As Nice: Bill May And Kanako Spendlove Win Second Bronze At Synchro World Championships". TeamUSA.org. USOPC. 22 July 2017. Archived from the original on 23 July 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
External links[edit]
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- 1982 births
- 21st-century Japanese women
- American sportspeople of Japanese descent
- American synchronized swimmers
- Cirque du Soleil performers
- Japanese emigrants to the United States
- Japanese synchronized swimmers
- Living people
- Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Olympic medalists in synchronized swimming
- Olympic silver medalists for Japan
- Olympic synchronized swimmers for Japan
- Synchronized swimmers at the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Synchronized swimmers at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships
- World Aquatics Championships medalists in synchronised swimming
- Japanese swimming biography stubs