SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING

Summary of the event. What actually happens?

Synchronized swimming is sometimes known as “water ballet” because the participants perform a dance in the water. There is usually a team of about eight women that participate, and there is also a category called the “duet” which means that only two women perform together. As they perform, they give the illusion of effortlessness, though synchronized swimming is one of the most demanding sports in the Olympics.

The women need exceptional strength, flexibility, grace, and you need very good lung capacity. The teams perform to music, and there are underwater speakers to allow those people who are underwater to time their routine according to the music. Sometimes they lift their teammates up in the air, all while they’re in the water. Synchronized swimming is one of the three sports that only women are allowed to participate in, the other two being rhythmic gymnastics and softball.

What does it feel like to participate?

Being in the Olympics is and exhilarating, wonderful feeling. Nearly every participant is nervous, but all of them are very proud to be representing their country, and there is a strong desire to win and make their country proud inside every athlete. There are many quotes about participating in synchronized swimming. Maria Kisseleva, of the Russian Duet Team states; “Being that we are the world champions, we are expected to win. This creates a lot of pressure on us.”

Raika Fujii, of the Japanese Team says;
"As a team I feel we were nervous, but we tried our best." For more quotes, you can go to http://www.goodwillgames.com/events/syncswim/quotes/sy719.html

What kind of training is involved?

As with any sport, you must be in good shape and be physically and mentally healthy enough to participate, and have a good attitude.
Some more specific training for synchronized swimming is a lot of “dry-land” training. This means that the athletes will need to do activities on land that corresponds with the sport they are participating in. In synchronized swimming, the athletes generally must have dance class, go to the gym regularly, and eat healthily. Some coaches have other methods of training, but their schedules and methods are not on the internet, so coaches and players from other teams do not copy or sabotage them.

If you want to become an Olympic athlete, there are many things you must do. First, do some research and find out if this is really the sport for you. Do you have enough willpower? Enough time? Enough money? Is there a synchronized swimming club or team close to you? Next, enroll in synchronized swimming and just focus on learning how and improving in it for a few years. During your training and during the Olympics (if you make it that far) you must stay fit and eat healthy. You must also learn to never give up, and push through hardship and injury. Now you must hire a private coach, and train nearly every day of the week. Try out for the national team, and if you make it, you will now train year-round, almost seven days a week. If you have followed these guidelines, by the time the Olympics come around, you will be a very good athlete!

What equipment do you need?

For synchronized swimming, basically all you need is a swimsuit, nose clips, hair gel, and makeup. A good, fitted swimsuit will help you slip through the water more easily. Athletes generally use nose clips to keep the water out of their nose, so they don’t have to concentrate on not breathing through their nose. A type of special waterproof hair gel is used to slick back the athlete’s hair into a tight bun, so their hair doesn’t get in the way of their routine. Makeup brings out their features, and also portrays the mood of the music and routine. For example, if the music was light and happy, the participants would probably wear bright, attractive colours instead of lots of heavy, dark makeup for depressing songs. It must be waterproof, or else it would run down their faces. Usually, only makeup like lipstick, eyeliner, eyeshadow, and mascara are used. Other things you may need are physical and psychological, like good lung capacity, strong muscles, a will to win, and courage.

When and where is the event being held during the upcoming Olympics in Beijing?

Synchronized swimming will be held from August 17th to August 22nd in the Beijing National Aquatics Centre, Olympic Green in the Chaoyang District. The finals are scheduled for August 19th and 20th. There will be two gold medals awarded, one for team and one for duet.