POLK CITY, Fla. — USA Water Ski selected Freddy Krueger of Winter Garden, Fla., and Rhoni Barton of Orlando, Fla., as its Male and Female Athletes of the Month for July. The athletes will now be considered for the United States Olympic Committee's Male and Female Athlete of the Month awards.

"Freddy and Rhoni both deserve a lot of credit for their pending jumping records at the Malibu Open," says Steve McDermeit, USA Water Ski's executive director. "Freddy's pending world jumping record has raised the bar for water skiers across the globe. The record is a result of Freddy's hard work, determination and sheer athletic talent. Rhoni has made a phenomenal comeback to the top of Women's water skiing in recent months. After suffering a devastating knee injury a few years ago, she is back in championship form ? excelling in all three events."

Krueger, 26, won the 2002 Malibu Open, July 21, in Rio Linda, Calif., after setting a pending Men's world jumping record of 233 feet (71.0 meters). If approved by the International Water Ski Federation's Technical Committee, the jump will eclipse the current world record by 0.1 meters.

Barton, 27, achieved a pending Open Women national jumping record with a leap of 172 feet at the 2002 Malibu Open, July 21, in Rio Linda, Calif. The jump earned Barton a third-place finish in the event. She also placed fourth in Women's tricks at the Malibu Open, tallying 6,640 points. Earlier this month, Barton won Women's tricks at the French Masters, July 6-7, in Lacanau, France. Barton also claimed second place in the overall competition, finishing second in Women's slalom and third in Women's jumping.