Karine Thomas

Biography

Heading into Rio 2016, Karine Thomas was the lone holdover from the 2012 Olympic synchro team that narrowly missed the podium in London, finishing fourth. After competing at the world junior championships in 2006, Thomas joined the national team in 2007 and made her debut at the FINA World Championships that year. She helped the team to fourth place finishes at the next two world championships. She was also a member of the team that won gold at the 2011 Pan Am Games. After a lot of turnover on the national team post-London 2012, Thomas began competing in the duet competition in 2013. In 2015 she and Jacqueline Simoneau won duet gold at the Pan Am Games in Toronto, where they were also part of the gold medal-winning team. She went on to compete in both duet and team at the 2015 FINA World Championships. Thomas and Simoneau finished seventh in the duet at Rio 2016.

Getting to know…

Family: Parents Ian Thomas and Martine Valin… Younger brother Jean-Philippe… Both parents were national team water polo players… Her father missed competing at Moscow 1980 due to the Canadian team boycott… Grandmother Esther Blais-Valin was a synchronized swimmer in the 1940s-50s… Getting into the Sport: First saw synchro on TV from Atlanta 1996; was intrigued by the beauty, grace, costumes and makeup… Started synchro at age 10… Moved to Montreal in 2003 (age 14) to train with an elite club… Outside Interests: Enjoys cooking and baking… Loves watching Food Network… Odds and Ends: Collects fridge magnets during her travels… Favourite motto: Believe what you can and you’re halfway there…