Synchronized Swimming Essay

Synchronized swimming, also known as pattern swimming or water ballet, is an Olympic sport that mixes swimming with ballet and gymnastics, and includes diving, stunts, lifts, and endurance movements. It developed from ornamental swimming and into a recognized sport in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with swimmers performing round-dances in the water as a swimming art form.

Who invented ornamental swimming?

One of the American founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, was actually a pioneer for synchronized swimming and is thought to have possibly invented it. Franklin grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and swam frequently in the Atlantic Ocean to experiment with exercise and its health benefits. He performed manoeuvres he called “ornamental

For example, synchro swimmers are not permitted jewellery, theatrical make-up, or inappropriate costumes.

No Goggles

Another restriction during synchronised swimming routines is goggles. However, swimmers in figures competitions are permitted to wear them.

Team Means Team

Teams normally contain eight swimmers, but the minimum number for a team is four. Teams lose marks for every swimmer they have under the full complement because it is easier to synchronise the fewer people there are in a routine.

Stick To The Schedule

Routines can be anything from two and a half minutes to five minutes long, depending on whether they are performed alone or as part of a team. However, swimmers are penalised if they take 15 seconds fewer or longer than the specified time.

Gender Rules

Synchronized swimming, based on the huge majority alone, is mostly a woman’s sport. Men are not allowed to compete in the Olympics, World Championships, or any other FINA sanctioned events. However, many countries do allow men to participate in their national or local competitions. There are also a variety of international events, such as Opens, that permit male synchronized swimmers to compete alongside and against

Well, can you imagine running for up to five minutes while performing acrobatics, holding your breath, looking graceful, and having to keep in time to the music? No? That’s synchronised swimming!

Synchro routines are essentially athletic movements performed in water and choreographed to music.

It is an incredibly skillful sport. In fact, a test on all the Olympic sports before the London 2012 Olympic Games found synchro swimmers ranked second to long distance runners in aerobic capacity!

Synchro swimmers need strength to perform twists and lifts and can hold their breath underwater for around a minute.

They also need rhythm and flair to synchronise and interpret the music, which they listen to through underwater speakers.

Health Benefits

Physical Benefits

Flexibility

Synchronised swimmers are amongst the most flexible athletes, coming second to gymnasts. Synchro will help you become supple and limber during every aspect of the sport, be it on land or in the pool. Older athletes have reported improvements in arthritis and other age-related conditions since being involved in the sport.

Increased Aerobic