Canada’s synchro duet remains a solid fourth entering Tuesday’s final

Before the Olympics, Canada's synchro duet team, Marie-Pier Boudreau-Gagnon and Élise Marcotte, hinted they'll bring out a showstopper for their final routine.

[Photos: Canada's synchro duo]

The pair of first-time Olympians will need it, and likely a slip-up from third place Spain, to win a medal in the pool at London 2012. The first-time Olympians sit (tread water?) in fourth headed into Tuesday's final, in back of Spain's Ona Carbonell-Ballestero and Andrea Fuentes-Fache, who are third with 192.59 points to the Canadians' 189.25. Translation: The medal might already be settled. Chalk that up to one of the frustrations of a judged sport: The top six teams in Monday's free program were the same six from the technical program. Yeah, no one's getting benefit of the doubt from the judges based on reputation in this event.

Fourth would be a commendable finish from Boudreau-Gagnon and Marcotte, a team which was put together in four years rather than the eight it usually takes to develop a duet for the gruelling yet genteel sport. They also finished fourth at the world championships in 2011.

This Olympics, for the pair, has been more about getting traction with the judges and being seen. The medals typically are China, Russia and Spain's to lose.

[Video: How do synchro swimmers hold their breath so long?]

Boudreau-Gagnon and then-partner Isabelle Rampling were sixth in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Canada's last duet Olympic medal was in 1992 from Penny and Vicky Villagos, who actually were twins.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Contact him at neatesager@yahoo.ca and follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.

More London Olympics coverage on Yahoo! Canada Sports:
• Photos: Hottest Olympic athletes
• Rosie MacLennan's remarkable journey
• Why Brent Hayden is quitting swimming
• Video: Is Ryan Lochte ready to become a sex symbol?