Synchronized Swimming

   About

   It looks like perhaps the most effortless event in the Olympic Games, but there is more to synchronised swimming than what appears on the surface. Besides demanding strength, endurance, flexibility, grace and artistry, it requires exceptional breath control.

   Unusual, but vital, equipment helps the women maintain the illusion of effortlessness, no simple task considering they perform strenuous movements upside down and underwater while holding their breath. A nose clip prevents water from entering the nose, allowing the swimmers to remain underwater for long periods. Gelatine keeps the hair in place. Make-up brings out the features.

   Most importantly, an underwater speaker lets the swimmers hear the music clearly while underwater, helping them achieve the split-second timing critical to synchronised swimming.

   Originally known as water ballet, synchronised swimming began in Canada in the 1920s. It spread to the United States in the early '30s, where a display at the 1934 Chicago World's Fair drew rave reviews. Its popularity soared further when Esther Williams performed in a string of MGM "aqua musicals" in the 1940s and '50s.

   Competition

   Synchronised swimming emerged as an exhibition sport at the Olympic Games from 1948 to 1968, then debuted as a full medal sport in Los Angeles in 1984. It is open only to women, with medals offered in two events: duet and team.

   Competition for both events consists of a technical routine and a free routine, each performed to music within a time limit. In the technical routine, swimmers perform specific moves in a set order, including boosts, rockets, thrusts and twirls. In the free routine there are no restrictions on music or choreography. Judges of each routine look for a high degree of difficulty and risk, flawless execution, innovative choreography and seemingly effortless performance.

   The judging for synchronised swimming resembles the judging for figure skating. Two panels of five judges assess a performance, one panel scoring technical merit and the other assessing artistic impression. In both cases, each judge awards a mark out of a possible 10.

   List of events

   -- duet Women

   -- team Women

Synchronized Swimming: History

   Discipline's origin

   Synchronised swimming is one of the few disciplines to be contested only by women (rhythmic gymnastics and softball are the others).

   Synchronised swimming is a relatively new discipline, with its origins dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. Water show activities were popularised in the United States by Annette Kellerman (1886-1975), an Australian swimmer who toured the United States, performing her water acrobatics in a glass tank. The sport was then developed in the United States by Katherine Curtis, who experimented around 1915 with water figures, and had the figures performed to musical accompaniment. Her students performed at the 1933-34 Chicago "Century of Progress" Fair, where the announcer, former Olympic swimming gold medallist Norman Ross, coined the term "synchronised swimming".

   Synchronised swimming was later popularised by American film star Esther Williams, who performed water ballet in several American movies. The competitive aspect was developed about the same time when Frank Havlicek, a student of Curtis, drew up a set of rules.

   Olympic history

   Synchronised swimming was first held in 1984 during the Los Angeles Olympics with solo and duet events. These events were also contested at the 1988 Games in Seoul and 1992 Games in Barcelona. However, both events were discontinued in 1996 in Atlanta, replaced by an 8-person team event. The programme for the Sydney 2000 Games included the team event as well as the return of the duet event.

Synchronized Swimming: Equipment

   Swim suit

   Swim suits shall be suitable for a sports event and shall be non-transparent.

   Pool

   The pool must be a minimum of 20m by 30m, and within that a 12m by 12m area must be at least 3m deep. The water temperature must be 26 degrees Celsius, plus or minus one degree.

   Underwater speakers

   Used to project music underwater.

   Goggles

   Goggles and additional clothing is not permitted.

   Nose clip

   A small clip of hard plastic or wire with a thin rubber coating, used to stop water from entering the nose during underwater movements.

Synchronized Swimming: Glossary

   Artistic impression: An effect, image or feeling retained as a result of a swimmer's routine, covers the three areas of choreography, interpretation of music and manner of presentation.

   Artistic impression score: The score given by each judge of panel two for: choreography, music interpretation and manner of presentation.

   Ballet leg: A position where one leg is extended perpendicular to the water surface, with the body in a back layout position.

   Ballet leg double: A position where the legs are together and extended perpendicular to the water surface, with the face at the surface.

   Boost: A rapid, headfirst rise out of the water, aiming to raise as much of the body as possible above the surface.

   Cadence action: A sequence of identical movements performed one by one by all team members, usually in rapid succession.

   Combined spin: A descending spin of at least 360 degrees followed, without a pause, by an equal ascending spin in the same direction.

   Continuous spin: A descending spin with a rapid rotation of at least 720 degrees, before the heels reach the surface.

   Crane: A position where the body is extended in a vertical position with one leg extended forward at a 90-degree angle.

   Deckwork: The mood-setting moves that swimmers perform on the deck once the music starts before they enter the water.

   Degree of difficulty: A weighting applied to a particular figure for scoring purposes in a figure competition.

   Descending spin: A spin of 180 or 360 degrees that starts at the height of the vertical position and is completed as the heels reach the surface.

   Difficulty: Complexity of movements, speed of movements, number if figures and hybrids.

   Eggbeater: A rotary action of the legs used to support and propel the upper body in an upright position, leaving the arms free.

   Execution: The performance level of the skills demonstrated.

   Figure: A combination of body positions and transitions performed in a prescribed manner.

   Flamingo: A position where one leg is extended perpendicular to the surface while the other leg is drawn to the chest, with the lower leg parallel to the surface and the face at the surface.

   Float: A surface formation where between two and eight swimmers are connected horizontally.

   Free routine: A routine where the choreography and choice of music is completely free.

   Full twist: A rotation of 360 degrees at sustained height.

   Half twist: A rotation of 180 degrees at sustained height.

   Hybrid figure: A combination of figure parts, body positions and transitions that come from mixed origin or composition.

   Level: The body's position in relation to the water surface, such as high, medium or low.

   Lift: When one or more swimmers gives support to lift another swimmer (or more) above the surface of the water.

   Manner of presentation: The total command of a swimmer's performance as she presents it to the audience.

   Pattern: A formation made by the spatial relationship between the members of a team.

   Pool pattern: The path a swimmer takes through the water.

   Propulsion technique: The way a swimmer uses her arms, legs or both to move through the water; a driving force.

   Required elements: Eight to ten fixed figures or other requirements which must be performed by all participants in a Technical Routine session.

   Reverse combined spin: An ascending spin of at least 360 degrees followed without a pause by an equal descending spin in the same direction.

   Risk factor: The use of a difficult action in which an error in execution may cause a near disaster.

   Rocket split: A move involving a thrust to the vertical position, followed by a rapid leg split before returning to the vertical position at maximum height.

   Routine: A composition of strokes, figures and parts thereof, choreographed to music. It is judged on both technical merit and artistic impression.

   Scull: A movement of the hands designed to apply continuous pressure against the water to propel, balance and support the body.

   Spin: An ascending or descending rotation in a vertical position, performed in a uniform motion unless otherwise specified.

   Split: A position where the legs are split evenly forward and back, with the feet and thighs at the surface while the lower back is arched and the hips, shoulders and head are in a vertical line in the water.

   Technical merit: The level of excellence demonstrated by the swimmers' mastery of highly specialised skills.

   Technical merit score: The score given by each judge in panel one for execution, synchronisation and difficulty.

   Technical routine: A routine which contains required elements woven into the choreography. Competitors are free to choose the music they perform to.

   Thrust: A move that starts from a back pike position with the legs perpendicular to the surface and involves a rapid vertical upward movement of the legs and hips as the body unrolls to assume the vertical position.

   Twirl: A rapid twist of 180 degrees.

   Twist: A rotation at sustained height.

   Twist spin: A move that involves a half-twist followed, without a pause, by a continuous spin.

   Vertical position: A position where the body is extended, with face, chest, thighs and feet at the surface.

   Walkout front: A move where, starting in the split position, the front leg is lifted in a 180-degree arc over the surface to meet the other leg in a surface-arch position, and with continuous movement an arch to back layout is executed.