History of the Sport
For many years, we have known this event as synchronized swimming, however, the name was changed in 2017 to artistic swimming (who knew?) to give it a wider appeal. This change was made by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) to better reflect the creativity, artistry, and athletic skill required in the sport.
The rebranding aimed to align the sport more closely with other artistic disciplines and to emphasize the artistic and technical elements of the performances. This evolution has helped to modernize the sport’s image and enhance its appeal to broader audiences.
Team USA’s Medal Chances in Paris
With the long-time powerhouse of Team Russia not competing in Paris, the United States and China were the leaders going into the team final at the 2024 Olympics Wednesday for the sport once known as synchronized swimming. That meant the U.S. had a shot at taking home a gold in artistic swimming.
What Artistic Swimming Looks Like
The sport has become much more physical, notably in the team acrobatic routines. Breath control and endurance are necessary, and more athleticism has entered into the sport. The tricks are now riskier, the throws are higher — and with more tricks and higher throws there are more bruises and a greater risk for concussions.
Despite all the changes, the gelatin-thick hair and makeup are still prominent, and so are the smiles when swimmers surface from their underwater work.
Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk
Team USA pulled out all the stops to winning a medal at the 2024 Olympics. Their routine at the Olympics was a tribute to Michael Jackson set to “Smooth Criminal” instead of “Billie Jean” that turned Jackson into a global phenomenon during the 1983 TV “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever.”
They captured the world’s attention by performing an underwater rendition of a dance move that has been around for decades: the moonwalk. Made famous by Michael Jackson, they found a way to perfect an incredibly difficult version of it in the pool.
To perform the underwater moonwalk, Team USA’s eight synchronized swimmers flip upside down in the water. They have only their legs sticking straight out of the water and perform a couple of small kicks before breaking into the signature backward glide.
First Olympic Medal in 20 Years
After a two-decade dry spell, the United States earned hardware in Olympic artistic swimming Wednesday by securing a silver medal at the Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis, France.
The victory marks the first Olympic podium finish for the U.S. in artistic swimming, formerly called synchronized swimming, since the Americans won bronze in the team and duet events at the 2004 Athens Games.
“I’m so proud,” said Anita Alvarez, a veteran member of the U.S. squad who competed at the Rio and Tokyo Olympics in the women’s duet. “This is my third Games and (for) the rest of the team, this is all their first, so I can’t imagine doing what they did at my first Games.”
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