Olympic Profiles

By Harriet Barovick, Autumn DeLeon, Michelle Derrow, Tam Gray, Daniel Levy, Lina Lofaro, Anne Moffett, David Spitz and Chris Taylor

GOING FOR THE GOLD: SYNCHRONIZED DIVING Our series on the champions of underappreciated Olympic sports looks at two athletes hoping to represent the U.S. on the high podium in 2000.

KRISTIN LINK, 20, and LINDSAY LONG, 19, Southern Methodist University

TEAM RANK: No. 1 in U.S., No. 2 in world

BEST DIVE: Back 1 1/2 somersault

EDGE: They wear sporty new suits to every meet, plus a hint of waterproof mascara

WHAT'S THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR CHINESE ARCHRIVALS? Lindsay: "We're both long and tall [for divers]. They are really short. They can spin really fast."