Kanako Kitao
Medal record
Women's synchronized swimming
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2004 Athens Team
Representing  United States
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Budapest Mixed duet free
Bronze medal – third place 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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Champion Swimmers become Circus Stars - Athlete to Artist - O - Cirque du Soleil". YouTube. Cirque du Soileil. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b Majoros, Kevin (9 February 2017). "Synchronized swimmer finds hope after decades of exile". Washington Blade. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Perolagua Facebook Page". Facebook. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Bill May Continues Quest to The Olympics With New Duet Partner Kanako Spendlove". Inside Synchro. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  6. ^ "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.

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