Aquatics - Synchronised Swimming

Synchronized swimming (synchro) began as a men’s sport, with the earliest recorded competition in 1890 in Berlin. It drew through history, under different names, as acrobatic tricks in a water tank became popular exhibits as many World Fairs. In the 1950s, synchro's popularity was heightened by US film star Esther Williams, who performed ballet-like moves in the water in a series of Hollywood movies. The sport was recognized by the International Swimming Federation in 1952.

Synchro made its Olympic debut, with the solo and duet events, as an exhibition event in the 1952 and 1980 Olympic Games, and was finally recognized as an official event at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The same two events remained on the program until 1996, when they were replaced by the Team event. At the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, the Duet competition was reintroduced to the Games' roster. Synchronized swimming made its debut at the Pan American Games in 1955.

The competition for both duet (two swimmers) and team (eight) events consists of a technical routine and a free routine, each performed to music within a defined 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 to the type of choreography the swimmers perform. Judges look at each routine for a high degree of difficulty and risk, height out of the water, flawless execution, presentation, innovative choreography and synchronization.

Two panels of five judges assess a performance, one panel scores technical merit and the other assesses artistic impression. In both cases, each judge awards a mark out of 10.

Athletes

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