Synchronized swimming

Swimmers move to music in a pool.

They do a dance in the water. This sport is also called artistic swimming.

Swimmers move together at the same time. Some swimmers do flips or spins. Teammates can even lift a person high out of the water.

It is a very hard sport to do. It has been in the big Summer Olympics for a long time.

Swimmers perform a dance in a pool to music.

This sport is called artistic swimming. It was once known as synchronized swimming.

Swimmers must move together at the same time. They use many skills to do this. One skill is called the eggbeater kick. This helps them stay high in the water. It keeps their hands free to move.

They also use sculls. These are hand movements that help them move.

Teams do different kinds of routines. Some routines use technical elements. These are set moves that everyone must do. Other routines are called free routines. These let swimmers be more creative. Some moves are called acrobatics. This is when teammates lift a person up. The person being lifted is called a flyer. They use skills from diving or gymnastics. This sport has been in the Olympics since 1984. For a long time, only women competed. Now, men can compete in the Olympics too. Men joined the duet events in 2015. They joined the team events in 2024.

Artistic swimming is a beautiful sport where swimmers perform choreographed routines to music.

Swimmers must move in sync with each other and the beat of the music. This sport is governed by an organization called World Aquatics. It was once known as synchronized swimming, but the name changed in 2017. This change came from a request by the International Olympic Committee. Some people in the sport even find the new name controversial.

Even with the name change, the core of the sport remains the same. It is all about skill, timing, and grace in the water.

Performing a routine involves many different types of movements.

There are three main types of elements: hybrids, acrobatics, and technical required elements. A hybrid is a combination of leg movements done while the head and torso are underwater. Acrobatics are often called lifts or highlights where teammates propel a swimmer into the air. The person being lifted is called the flyer and often uses gymnastics skills. Technical required elements are set movements that everyone must perform in a technical routine. These elements have a difficulty score that is declared before the performance begins. If a swimmer misses a move, they may receive a lower score.

There are two main kinds of routines used in competition. Technical routines are shorter and include specific required elements. Free routines do not use these required elements, which allows for more creativity. In a free routine, swimmers can use more innovation in their choreography. Coaches use a coach card to list all the elements in order. This helps judges see what the swimmers planned to do. Swimmers must be careful not to touch the bottom of the pool. Touching the floor of the pool results in a penalty for the team.

The history of this sport in the Olympics is quite long.

It was first shown as a demonstration at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games. Katherine Curtis was honored there with a torch in her name. However, it did not become an official Olympic sport until 1984. For many years, the Olympics only featured women's events. Solo and duet events were held from 1984 until 1992. They were dropped in 1996, but the duet was brought back in 2000. Men have recently joined the competition in many ways. They competed in mixed duets in 2015 and joined the Olympic team event in 2024.

To stay upright and move well, swimmers use special skills. One essential skill is called sculling, which uses hand movements to move the body. Another vital skill is the eggbeater kick. This is a way of treading water that provides great stability. It also helps swimmers stay high out of the water. This allows them to keep their hands free for arm motions. Some swimmers use a body boost to rise up to hip level. These skills help swimmers hold many different positions, like the ballet leg or the flamingo. All these movements work together to create a wonderful show.

Artistic swimming, formerly known as synchronized swimming, is a highly disciplined aquatic sport.

Athletes perform choreographed routines set to music. They must move in perfect unison with each other and the musical beat. The sport is governed internationally by World Aquatics, which was previously called FINA. In 2017, the International Olympic Committee instructed FINA to rename the sport artistic swimming. This change caused some controversy within the community. The new name has not yet gained universal acceptance beyond the sport's core. Despite the name change, the fundamental requirements of skill and grace remain constant.

Performing a routine requires precise execution of various elements.

Routines last between two and three minutes depending on the competition category. Swimmers must avoid touching the bottom of the pool, or they will receive a penalty. Judges score routines based on execution, artistic impression, and a pre-determined degree of difficulty. Coaches submit a coach card that lists every element in the order it will be performed. If an athlete fails to complete a declared movement, their difficulty score may decrease. This scoring system is similar to the rules used in artistic gymnastics and figure skating.

There are three specific types of elements used in these routines. The first type is the hybrid, which consists of five or more leg movements performed while the head and torso are submerged. Each skill within a hybrid has a specific difficulty value. The second type is the technical required element, or TRE. These are predetermined movements that must be performed in technical routines. While they look like hybrids, they are identical across all routines in a specific category. The third type is the acrobatic element, also known as a lift or a highlight. In these moments, teammates propel a swimmer out of the water.

Acrobatic movements are categorized into four distinct styles. In an airborne movement, the featured swimmer is lifted and disconnects from the support swimmers. A balance movement involves the featured swimmer staying connected to a support swimmer during the exit and entrance. A platform movement uses the support swimmers to create a stable base. This allows the featured swimmer to stay above the water for a longer duration. The fourth type is a combined movement, which uses a mix of these styles. The athlete being lifted is called the flyer, and they often use gymnastics or diving skills. To generate power, the swimmers underneath use an eggbeater kick to lift the flyer.

Competitions are divided into technical and free routines. Technical routines are shorter and focus on technical required elements. They also include free hybrids and acrobatics. Free routines do not include these required elements. This absence allows for much more creativity and innovation in the choreography. Younger competitors often participate in figures competitions instead. In these events, they perform predetermined movements outside of a choreographed routine. This helps build the foundational skills necessary for higher levels of competition.

The history of the sport in the Olympics is quite storied. It was first shown as a demonstration sport at the 1952 Helsinki Games. During those games, officials honored Katherine Curtis by lighting a torch in her name. Synchronized swimming became an official Olympic sport in 1984. From 1984 to 1992, the Games included solo and duet events. These were replaced by team events in 1996. However, the duet competition was restored at the 2000 Olympics. Men have also seen increased inclusion. They competed in mixed duets at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships. By the 2024 Olympics, men were finally able to compete in the team event.

To maintain these complex positions, swimmers rely on essential basic skills. Sculling is a vital technique using hand movements to propel or support the body. One common version is the support scull, used to hold the body while upside down. Another essential skill is the eggbeater kick. This form of treading water provides stability and allows the swimmer to rise high. An average eggbeater height reaches the collarbone. Swimmers also use this to perform body boosts, which can raise them to hip level. These skills enable many positions, such as the ballet leg, the flamingo, or the crane.

All these elements combine to create a complex and disciplined art form.