SYNCHRO FAQ's
Q: What is artistic swimming?
A: The sport of artistic swimming (synchronized swimming) has come a long way since its early beginnings as "water ballet" in Esther Williams’ movies. Today’s swimmer must have the grace of a ballerina, the strength and flexibility of a gymnast, the skills of a speed swimmer and water polo player, the lungs of a pearl diver, and the endurance and stamina of a long distance runner. Add to that the requirement for split-second timing and a dramatic flair for musical interpretation and choreography, and you have artistic swimming!
Q: Is artistic swimming an Olympic sport?
A: Artistic swimming has been an Olympic event since 1984. The first Olympic competitions featured only the duet and solo events. In the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, the team event was introduced. The sport is governed internationally by World Aquatics (AQUA).
Q: Can artistic swimmers touch the bottom of the pool?
A: Artistic swimmers do not touch the bottom of the pool during a routine. This is strictly against the rules, and will result in a penalty. During competition, the pool water is a minimum of 6-9 feet deep. The swimmers support themselves using sculling (specialized arm movements) and eggbeater kick techniques to create the illusion that they are floating effortlessly in the water.
Q: Can the swimmers hear the music underwater?
A: Yes, artistic swimmers can hear the music underwater. The sound is supplied via underwater speakers.
Q: Do artistic swimmers keep their eyes open underwater?
A: Yes, artistic swimmers swim with their eyes open underwater. This allows them to check their alignment and formations with their teammates. When spinning upside down in the water, artistic swimmers “spot” the pool walls, just like a figure skater, dancer, or diver does to count their rotations.
Q: How long can artistic swimmers hold their breath?
A: An artistic swimmer may spend up to 50% of a 3-minute routine underwater. When underwater, swimmers are moving their limbs constantly in order to perform precise movements - similar to running underwater while holding your breath at the same time. During training, swimmers regularly exercise their breath control by swimming entire lengths of the pool (25 yards) underwater.
Q: How does a synchronized swimming competition work?
A: Depending on their age and competition level, swimmers may compete in solo, duet, trio, team (4-8 swimmers), or combo (8-10 swimmers) routines.
Similar to gymnastics, artistic swimming routines are assigned a pre-determined “degree of difficulty,” depending on the specific skills that are performed. During the competition, judges award Execution scores to each segment of the routine, taking into account factors such as precision, body extension, and height out of the water. Routines also receive an Artistic Impression score for performance quality, musicality, and the creativity of the choreography. Deductions are taken for each small, medium, or large synchronization error.
Younger swimmers also compete in “figures,” a series of technical moves performed individually in front of a panel of judges without music. A percentage of the athlete's figure score is combined with their routine score to determine final standings.
Q: How does their hair stay in place during a competition?
A: To ensure their hair does not move during their routines, swimmers apply warm KNOX gelatin to their hair. Once the “knox” dries, it forms a shell around the hair and is impervious to water. After a competition, the knox can only be removed with a very hot shower.
Q: Why the makeup and glitter?
A: Artistic swimming uses sequined suits and waterproof makeup to enhance the performance and convey the routine theme, in the same way that artistic gymnastics and skaters do.
Q: How many hours per week do artistic swimmers train, and how do they train?
A: Cambridge swimmers practice between 1.5 and 10 hours per week, depending on the age and competition level of the swimmer. While much of this time is spent in the pool, we also spend time out of the water doing strength training, stretching, and land drilling (practicing routines out of the pool). Olympic and National Team artistic swimmers practice as much as eight hours a day, six days a week!
Q: It looks easy, is it?
A: Don’t let the smiles fool you - this is a highly demanding and athletic sport! Making a routine look easy is an important part of artistic swimming, and is just one of the things that the judges look for in competition.
A: The sport of artistic swimming (synchronized swimming) has come a long way since its early beginnings as "water ballet" in Esther Williams’ movies. Today’s swimmer must have the grace of a ballerina, the strength and flexibility of a gymnast, the skills of a speed swimmer and water polo player, the lungs of a pearl diver, and the endurance and stamina of a long distance runner. Add to that the requirement for split-second timing and a dramatic flair for musical interpretation and choreography, and you have artistic swimming!
Q: Is artistic swimming an Olympic sport?
A: Artistic swimming has been an Olympic event since 1984. The first Olympic competitions featured only the duet and solo events. In the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, the team event was introduced. The sport is governed internationally by World Aquatics (AQUA).
Q: Can artistic swimmers touch the bottom of the pool?
A: Artistic swimmers do not touch the bottom of the pool during a routine. This is strictly against the rules, and will result in a penalty. During competition, the pool water is a minimum of 6-9 feet deep. The swimmers support themselves using sculling (specialized arm movements) and eggbeater kick techniques to create the illusion that they are floating effortlessly in the water.
Q: Can the swimmers hear the music underwater?
A: Yes, artistic swimmers can hear the music underwater. The sound is supplied via underwater speakers.
Q: Do artistic swimmers keep their eyes open underwater?
A: Yes, artistic swimmers swim with their eyes open underwater. This allows them to check their alignment and formations with their teammates. When spinning upside down in the water, artistic swimmers “spot” the pool walls, just like a figure skater, dancer, or diver does to count their rotations.
Q: How long can artistic swimmers hold their breath?
A: An artistic swimmer may spend up to 50% of a 3-minute routine underwater. When underwater, swimmers are moving their limbs constantly in order to perform precise movements - similar to running underwater while holding your breath at the same time. During training, swimmers regularly exercise their breath control by swimming entire lengths of the pool (25 yards) underwater.
Q: How does a synchronized swimming competition work?
A: Depending on their age and competition level, swimmers may compete in solo, duet, trio, team (4-8 swimmers), or combo (8-10 swimmers) routines.
Similar to gymnastics, artistic swimming routines are assigned a pre-determined “degree of difficulty,” depending on the specific skills that are performed. During the competition, judges award Execution scores to each segment of the routine, taking into account factors such as precision, body extension, and height out of the water. Routines also receive an Artistic Impression score for performance quality, musicality, and the creativity of the choreography. Deductions are taken for each small, medium, or large synchronization error.
Younger swimmers also compete in “figures,” a series of technical moves performed individually in front of a panel of judges without music. A percentage of the athlete's figure score is combined with their routine score to determine final standings.
Q: How does their hair stay in place during a competition?
A: To ensure their hair does not move during their routines, swimmers apply warm KNOX gelatin to their hair. Once the “knox” dries, it forms a shell around the hair and is impervious to water. After a competition, the knox can only be removed with a very hot shower.
Q: Why the makeup and glitter?
A: Artistic swimming uses sequined suits and waterproof makeup to enhance the performance and convey the routine theme, in the same way that artistic gymnastics and skaters do.
Q: How many hours per week do artistic swimmers train, and how do they train?
A: Cambridge swimmers practice between 1.5 and 10 hours per week, depending on the age and competition level of the swimmer. While much of this time is spent in the pool, we also spend time out of the water doing strength training, stretching, and land drilling (practicing routines out of the pool). Olympic and National Team artistic swimmers practice as much as eight hours a day, six days a week!
Q: It looks easy, is it?
A: Don’t let the smiles fool you - this is a highly demanding and athletic sport! Making a routine look easy is an important part of artistic swimming, and is just one of the things that the judges look for in competition.